Tim Alexander, a Democrat who served as a detective captain for the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, launched a campaign in March 2021 to unseat Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew. | Tim Alexander for Congress New Jersey Van Drew opponent was shot at, beaten by cops — then became oneIn 2020, New Jersey Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew attacked his Democrat opponent, Amy Kennedy, for wanting to "defund the police." Kennedy, a native of the South Jersey district who’s from a local political family and who married into the famous national political dynasty, has not ruled out another run. Van Drew, his congressman, switched parties in late 2019 after he lost Democratic support because he refused to vote to impeach Trump, famously pledging his “undying support” during a meeting with the president at the White House. Despite his support for Kennedy, he said he was “disappointed” in how she handled herself during the campaign, including during her televised debate with Van Drew.

“The THRIVE Act is the agenda that establishes the pillars for economic renewal in our country,” Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass. The White House’s infrastructure package is potentially less ambitious on the climate front, allotting just $400 billion for measures like green transit and research and development, according to The Washington Post. And it could include Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s $454 billion electric car proposal and the $1.1 trillion plan for greener public schools that Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) endorsed this month. “The infrastructure package should also be done in one bill, not two,” Alexandra Rojas, executive director of the left-leaning campaign group Justice Democrats, said in a statement. “Republicans have made it clear that they have no intention of working with the President on an infrastructure package.

Biden is taking the opposite approach of the Clinton administration to help the economy. Biden is taking the opposite approach of the Clinton administration to help the economy. White House aides are comparing the scope of Biden’s policy ambitions to Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s after the Great Depression. The Biden administration is now challenging China, which never embraced the values of democracy as trade advocates once believed it would. But he sees the Biden administration as pursuing new policies to help workers.

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. isn't ready to lift tariffs on Chinese imports in the near future, but might be open to trade negotiations with Beijing, according to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. As trade representative, Ms. Tai will need to deal with tough issues both abroad and at home. During her confirmation hearing, Ms. Tai said she would enforce the trade deal, although she didn't say how. She headed China enforcement at USTR during the Obama years and has a deep understanding of China trade issues. Ms. Tai isn't ready yet to discuss how her background might help or hinder.

National legislation favored by Democrats could counteract some state restrictions, but that too is no sure thing in a closely divided Congress. WASHINGTON (AP) — Court challenges to Republican-led election restrictions in Georgia and elsewhere face an uncertain road in a legal system that has grown more conservative in recent years. AdvertisementThe Georgia law was enacted less than three months after the state elected two Democrats to the Senate, handing the party control of the chamber. The Atlanta-based 11th Circuit includes Georgia, and the same court would handle any appeal of a trial court ruling. Congress could render the court fight virtually meaningless if it were to pass Democratic proposals that would, among other things, strike down hurdles to voting and revive the advance approval portion of the Voting Rights Act.

But the stock bubble in internet companies burst as the Clinton era ended. Factories quickly relocated to China, while assistance meant to retrain the newly unemployed never fully delivered as intended. They became more diverse, more likely to hold a college degree and more likely to live in an affluent city or suburb. That progression was easily overlooked until Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016 on the promise of scrapping trade deals, declaring that the government had stiffed the public and vowing to return the country to a past blue-collar identity. “Democrats were slow to realize this, but Biden was not.

Fans are reacting to Paloma Faith’s new BBC documentary, which shines a light on the difficulties she faced after giving birth while trying to continue her career. Paloma Faith: As I Am shows Faith behind the scenes as she tries to care for her baby while setting out on a world tour for her 2017 album, The Architect. “The Paloma Faith doc is a depressing, but I fear quite accurate look at the mundanity of the big money pop world,” he wrote. Read our privacy notice Independent Culture Newsletter The best in film, music TV & radio straight to your inbox every week Thanks for signing up to the Independent Culture newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Paloma Faith: As I Am is available on BBC iPlayer now.

Jodie Foster has revealed she remains proud of the role she played in introducing America to French film La Haine. Speaking to The Sunday Times, the actor discussed her latest projects and career to date, including the films she is most proud of. However, she then said: “There’s a movie I didn’t even make, that I helped release in the US, called La Haine. Read our privacy notice Independent Culture Newsletter The best in film, music TV & radio straight to your inbox every week Thanks for signing up to the Independent Culture newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy noticeShe told The Guardian last week: “It doesn’t feel like a white-saviour movie to me.

The call came after Mr Trump became the first Republican to lose Georgia in close to 30 years, after Joe Biden was named winner of the state. The Associated Press reported on Saturday that Ms Mitchell is now leading efforts to create tighter state voting laws, while fighting Democratic attempts to expand ballot access at a federal level. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. However, Ms Mitchell, alongside many Republicans, argue that the bill encroaches on state control over elections and could give Democrats an unfair advantage.

And, not to avoid the obvious, to suppress Black votes, because those ballots would not be cast to Republican advantage. It’s sick.”It’s also a product of GOP desperation to retain or regain power. Alice O’Lenick, chairwoman of the Gwinnett County election board, didn’t mince words about the need to tighten up voting rules in Georgia. “Politics is a zero-sum game, and every extra vote they get through unlawful interpretations of [the Voting Rights Act] hurts us.”A shot at winning. The new Georgia law stands as Exhibit A in the 2021 campaign to curtail voting rights but will not be the year’s last.

Here, we propose a set of six interim goals for reducing the burden of COVID-19 in the U.S. over the next 90 days. Certainly, a widely expanded communications and behavior change campaign would be needed to reach this interim goal. This interim goal should be achieved immediately and kept in place until at least June 30. David Holtgrave, Ph.D., is the dean of the University at Albany School of Public Health and SUNY Distinguished professor. Ronald O. Valdiserri M.D., MPH is a professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University.

Earlier this week, Rep. Jody Hice, a defender of Trump’s effort to overturn the election, announced he’s running with Trump’s endorsement to unseat Raffensperger. And the Georgia Republican Party isn’t exactly sitting on the sidelines. Brian Kemp, that removes the secretary of state as the state election board chair — to be replaced by a person approved by the state legislature. The law also gives the state election board the ability to suspend county election officials, who are replaced by an individual picked by the board. “In a Republican primary — like the Ohio Senate primary, for example — I suspect the challengers are going to be MAGA, or more MAGA, or mega MAGA.

National legislation favored by Democrats could counteract some state restrictions, but that too is no sure thing in a closely divided Congress. Groups opposed to Georgia’s sweeping overhaul of election laws filed suit in federal court in Atlanta on Thursday, a few hours after Gov. ADVERTISEMENTThe Georgia law was enacted less than three months after the state elected two Democrats to the Senate , handing the party control of the chamber. The Atlanta-based 11th Circuit includes Georgia, and the same court would handle any appeal of a trial court ruling. Congress could render the court fight virtually meaningless if it were to pass Democratic proposals that would, among other things, strike down hurdles to voting and revive the advance approval portion of the Voting Rights Act.

WASHINGTON — Congress is preparing for a heated battle over the way Americans vote, with the two parties set to clash over proposed federal election standards and Republican-led state restrictions. Republicans say Democrats are executing a power grab to remove necessary protections on the voting process and usurp authority from states. McConnell criticized the bill as "a grab-bag of changes" that go beyond voting rights. He highlighted a provision to restructure the Federal Election Commission, calling it a ploy to make it more partisan. The fightSome progressives believe they can make the voting rights bills a rallying cry to gut the 60-vote threshold, which Biden expressed openness to supporting on Thursday.

Earlier this week, Rep. Jody Hice, a defender of Trump’s effort to overturn the election, announced he’s running with Trump’s endorsement to unseat Raffensperger. And the Georgia Republican Party isn’t exactly sitting on the sidelines. Brian Kemp, that removes the secretary of state as the state election board chair — to be replaced by a person approved by the state legislature. The law also gives the state election board the ability to suspend county election officials, who are replaced by an individual picked by the board. “In a Republican primary — like the Ohio Senate primary, for example — I suspect the challengers are going to be MAGA, or more MAGA, or mega MAGA.

What has come over Joe Biden? Most important, perhaps, Biden has landed on a deceptively simple political strategy: He’s deliberately set modest expectations and then exceeded them. Case in point: the goals Biden set for the national vaccination program. He’s not FDR; he’s Joe Biden from Scranton, “putting one foot in front of the other and just trying to make things better,” as he put it at the news conference. But the Biden we’re seeing now, putting one foot in front of the other, is the most effective version of Joe Biden ever seen — and I’ve watched most of his career.

During college, I became interested in military service and enrolled in an Army ROTC program. Since that day, I’ve been standing alongside other transgender service members and aspiring service members for the chance to serve this country. My dreams of military service are finally within reach, but this fight isn’t over. And over 80% of American voters support laws that protect LGBTQ people from discrimination, like the Equality Act. Nicolas Talbott is an aspiring service member and transgender advocate who challenged the military's ban on transgender service members in federal court.

Since I like history, I did read the story, but nevertheless I thought this would have been more suited to somewhere inside the paper, like page 18 or 27. But the real reason you ran the story, along with its placement, is that Sen. Mastiano supported President Trump and you wanted to smear him somehow with this bizarre attack on his academic career and, in so doing, also smear President Trump by association.

Texas COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to see a downward trend more than two weeks after the state scrapped its mask mandate and allowed businesses to reopen at full capacity. Texas COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to drop, 17 days after it scrapped its mask mandate and allowed businesses to reopen at full capacity. 'The last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime, everything's fine - take off your mask, forget it. Tate Reeves who also ended the state's mask mandate this month. 'President Biden said allowing Mississippians to decide how to protect themselves is 'neanderthal thinking,'' Reeves tweeted at the time.

Bachelor star Bekah Martinez has posted a lengthy post after being sexually assaulted while out with her children. I’m mad,” Martinez wrote, as she revealed she had suffered a similar experience five years ago. Read our privacy notice Independent Culture Newsletter The best in film, music TV & radio straight to your inbox every week Thanks for signing up to the Independent Culture newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice“I don’t care what you have to do to teach your sons to respect the people around them. She also received several messages of support from her fellow Bachelor alumni.

Tom Holland has revealed the dramatic transformation he has undergone in order to film the third Spider-Man film, No Way Home. “I never post s*** like this but it's our last day so f*** it,” he captioned the photo. Tom Holland shared an update on his Instagram Stories (Tom Holland/Instagram)Last month, Holland revealed he plans on taking a break from acting after shooting No Way Home. Read our privacy notice Independent Culture Newsletter The best in film, music TV & radio straight to your inbox every week Thanks for signing up to the Independent Culture newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Spider-Man: No Way Home is currently scheduled for release on 17 December 2021.

? Close Related video: Biden says he expects to run for second termDonald Trump has given yet another phone interview to Fox News, this time telling Jeanine Pirro he plans to visit the US-Mexico border “over the next couple of weeks” as the country faces a fresh immigration crisis following four years of “zero tolerance” policies under his leadership. His successor, Joe Biden, found himself accused of inaction on the issue on Saturday Night Live in a sketch in which he was portrayed as more interested in handing out stimulus cheques and allowing his German shepherd Major to savagely maul Kamala Harris’s husband Doug Emhoff. Elsewhere, Mr Biden’s secretary of state Anthony Blinken has hit out at China for its latest round of sanctions against American and Canadian officials, saying: “Beijing’s attempts to intimidate and silence those speaking out for human rights and fundamental freedoms only contribute to the growing international scrutiny of the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang.”Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy noticeRead more:

Some State Department officials argued that punishing Myanmar for the army’s atrocities would push the country into China’s orbit. In a previously unreported effort, some State Department officials said they encouraged Pompeo to take a fresh look at Myanmar in a parallel process in mid-2020. Seeking accountabilityInside the State Department, officials were split on the genocide label for Myanmar, Reuters has learned. Pompeo considered the leak an attempt to pressure him into deeming the Myanmar atrocities a genocide, former officials said. Other State Department bureaus responsible for promoting human rights, religious freedoms and global criminal justice likewise lent their support to a genocide determination, U.S. officials said.

Security experts claim that 'Russian hackers' sought sought to stop Monday's episode of Under Investigation from going to air on Channel Nine. Pictured: Host Liz HayesSecurity experts claim that 'Russian hackers' sought sought to stop Monday's episode of Under Investigation from going to air on Channel Nine. President Putin snapped back by wishing his American counterpart 'good health' and recalling the Russian Ambassador from the United States. President Putin was due to be term-limited out of office in 2024 but last year won public backing to amend the constitution and pave the way for two more terms. President Putin who has already been in power for more than 20 years, would be eligible for two-more six year terms that would take him to 2036.

Former President Trump Donald TrumpBiden's prediction on Afghanistan withdrawal spurs doubts Trump the X-factor in Virginia governor race Trump says he'll likely visit southern border soon MORE is already deeply involved in the 2022 midterm elections, headlining fundraisers and backing primary challengers, but he has yet to weigh in on one of this November's few races: the vote for Virginia's next governor. Trump lost Virginia to President Biden Joe BidenBiden's prediction on Afghanistan withdrawal spurs doubts Trump the X-factor in Virginia governor race Trump says he'll likely visit southern border soon MORE by roughly 10 points in November after losing it to former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonTrump the X-factor in Virginia governor race Surgeon who treated Gabby Giffords after shooting launches House bid in Arizona President Biden, on special interest money are you more an 'Obama' or a 'Hillary?' Four years later, many of the candidates running in Virginia's Republican primary have thrown their arms around Trump and his policies. Indeed the party is already at working trying to tie the former president to the GOP contenders in the race. "The entire Republican field," the statement read, has taken "their complete embrace of Donald Trump a step beyond the far right extremism that has become the norm in the Virginia GOP."

As of last week, 10 of the Capitol rioters are still fundraising for legal fees on GiveSendGo, according to a USA TODAY analysis. Stripe told USA TODAY it does not comment on individual users. A USA TODAY reporter was able to make a $1 donation to Pezzola's fundraiser using Venmo, a payment app owned by PayPal. After being alerted by USA TODAY, Venmo removed the account. After being alerted by USA TODAY, Cash App removed the account benefiting Miller, but a new one soon popped up in its place.

Duckworth told reporters that White House aides had pointed at Harris “multiple times” over the past year in response to lawmakers’ pressure. He is a co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, an advocacy group that has tallied 3,800 incidents of bias and hate directed at Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders over the past year. Neera Tanden, an Indian American, failed last month to win Senate confirmation to lead the Office of Management and Budget. The absence of Asian Americans at the White House has been noticeable. ADRohini Kosoglu, a Sri Lankan American who serves as Harris’s domestic policy adviser, was the highest-ranking Asian American official in attendance, participants said.

The Biden administration hopes to quickly help those uninsured in Georgia, as well as in 11 other states, by providing incentives to expand Medicaid. Brian Kemp greets President Donald Trump as Trump arrives at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on July 15. The Biden administration also has to figure out how to contend with the lawsuits that have blocked four of the waivers. They are suing the Department of Health and Human Services, which is now under the leadership of the Biden administration. Every day in her office, Kinsell said, she sees unmet health care needs that lead to disability and unemployment.

Today, with more than 540,000 COVID deaths, I hope we’ve learned the huge cost of allowing our public health structure to wither as we single-mindedly pursued the decades-long war on terror. The Affordable Care Act established the Prevention and Public Health Fund, with promised investment reaching about $2 billion annually by 2015. Since 2010, spending on local health departments has dropped by 18%, and at least 38,000 public health jobs have disappeared since the 2008 recession. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the national public health agency, has been regarded as a bastion of international scientific expertise, but that doesn’t always translate into good on-the-ground public health work. The CDC and local public health departments need to be equipped with the same level of sophisticated tools provided to, say, airport screeners.

One hundred and fifty years later, justice still eludes the 19 victims of the Los Angeles Chinese Massacre. The only public acknowledgement of the atrocity is a modest plaque embedded in the pavement on Los Angeles Street. A fitting memorial to the victims of the Chinese Massacre — and to anti-Asian violence in Los Angeles County more generally — is long overdue. With its resources and collective expertise, the Chinese American Museum in downtown Los Angeles should be central to the effort. By erecting a memorial there, Los Angeles would transform a site of trauma and tragedy into one of reconciliation and healing.

The migration crisis at America’s southern border has put the Biden administration in a sticky wicket. How could Trump’s ever-loyal vice president fix a problem his boss refused to own? But Harris’ biggest hurdle won’t be headquartered in Central America. They aim to demolish all Biden administration initiatives, and especially one that seeks a humane policy for handling desperate migrants who seek harbor. “At no point in her career has she given any indication that she considers the border a problem or a serious threat.”They don’t want Harris to succeed.

Did anyone expect a different answer from President Joe Biden when he was asked last Thursday — barely nine weeks into his term — if he'll seek reelection in 2024? If at 78 he harbors reasonable doubts, Biden would have no incentive to say so. During his first solo White House news conference, Biden fenced with reporters in the conventional way. The question arose: "Have you decided whether you are going to run for reelection in 2024? Prodded again, Biden replied: "My plan is to run for reelection.

Migrants at the US-Mexico border were seen wearing shirts pleading for Biden to let them in. The shirts read "Biden, please let us in" and mimic the design of Biden's campaign advertisements. Immigrants are gathering at the border, with an unprecedented number waiting to be let into the US. Migrants at the US-Mexico border were spotted wearing shirts that read "Biden, please let us in!" while gathering en-masse in Tijuana, kneeling and praying for US border officials to let them in.

He repeated false claims that the election was stolen, while also portraying insurrectionists as harmless fuzzballs to Laura Ingraham on Fox News. They claimed that “no reasonable person” would believe the conspiracy theories spun by Powell. This puts to lie the whole “seriously/ literally” shell game that has been going on for the last five years. For example, a February poll from the University of Houston found that 83 percent of Texas Republicans believed there was widespread election fraud. She was also considered to be part of an “elite strike force” of Trump lawyers (as Trump tweeted, a “truly great team”).

Several migrants, who gather each day along the stone benches that line the square, were detained and loaded into waiting vans. Eleven of the migrants, each one a member of a family group, were accepted into the country and sent to a migrant shelter. The right to asylum is not negotiable,” Salvador said.Confusion over the border closure extends to the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR. (A later leg of that trip to Guatemala was postponed after ash from an erupting volcano closed the international airport. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you.

When it came time to vote on the massive $1.9 trillion COVID relief package, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine’s Second Congressional District faced a dilemma. The Second District is classic Down East New England. Last November, Democrat Golden comfortably won a second term even as Donald Trump carried the district for a second time. When Golden voted with the GOP and against his party’s COVID package, the backlash from progressives was swift and intense. During Trump’s first impeachment, Golden voted “no” on one of the two articles of impeachment, the only member of Congress to do so.

Maya Rudolph hosting 'SNL' Image zoom Maya Rudolph hosting 'SNL' | Credit: NBCI am joined tonight by former SNL cast member Patrick Weathers. Let's jump into the fray and see what Rudolph, and tonight's musical guest Jack Harlow have to offer! It is so excellent seeing season 10 cast member Short back on the show, especially since Rudolph worked with him on their own (ill-fated) variety show. Next up: Bowen Yan, who Jost introduces as the "Asian cast member." The short ends with Rudolph in a photo of the original cast — spooky and brilliant way to wrap this up.

The GuardianAnalysis: Timothy Hale-Cusanelli was one of dozens of former or current military members investigated or charged in connection with the insurrection Rioters supporting Donald Trump storm the Capitol in Washington DC on 6 January 2021. Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, a US army reservist, is – according to court documents – an “avowed white supremacist and Nazi sympathizer”. Photograph: Jane Rosenberg/Reuters Hale-Cusanelli was charged with seven crimes, including obstructing congressional proceedings, in connection with the 6 January attack. Prosecutors said that on 14 January a confidential source used a listening device to record a conversation with Hale-Cusanelli. Thomas TJ Robertson and Jacob Fracker in the Capitol in the Capitol on 6 January.

Harris has no plans to visit the U.S.-Mexico border region “in the near future,” spokeswoman Symone Sanders said Friday. Sanders said Harris will go to the border at some point but emphasized the diplomatic nature of the vice president's role. “The vice president is not doing the border,” Sanders told reporters on a flight to Connecticut, where Harris was promoting the administration's COVID-19 relief package. He tweeted out photos of dozens of minors, wrapped in foil-like space blankets, lying on the floor of crowded Border Patrol facilities. It is not unusual to see increases in migrants coming across the border at this time of year and the Border Patrol has faced similar situations in the past, the official said.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran and China on Saturday signed a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement addressing economic issues amid crippling U.S. sanctions on Iran, state TV reported. The deal marked the first time Iran has signed such a lengthy agreement with a major world power. In 2001, Iran and Russia singed a 10-year cooperation agreement, mainly in the nuclear field, that was lengthened to 20 years through two five-year extensions. It comes on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Iran. Reportedly, Iran and China have done some $20 billion in trade annually in recent years.

It is Beijing that stands accused of atrocities, with the US and others alleging a genocide of Xinjiang’s Uighurs. The way they see it, Europe needs China more than China needs Europe. It has cultivated recalcitrant EU members, such as Hungary, and EU wannabes such as Serbia. By adding British MPs and organisations to its sanctions list, China shows how unimpressed it is by his feeble, Brexit-warped balancing act. Both Washington and Beijing are busily strengthening rival global alliances – the US with Europe, Japan and South Korea, China with Russia and in the Middle East.

A year ago DeSantis reluctantly bowed to pressure by issuing a stay-at-home order and requiring non-essential businesses to close. And on Monday, in a podcast interview with Lisa Boothe, Trump mentioned DeSantis first when listing Republicans he believes have a bright future. “Ron DeSantis is doing a really good job in Florida,” Trump said, going on to cite Senators Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz and Rand Paul and the Arkansas gubernatorial candidate Sarah Sanders. She has been travelling widely to address state Republican parties and chalking up appearances on Fox News. He’s been very loyal to the president since he’s been president and their governing style is very similar.

The FBI is investigating the disappearance of some $500,000 from the coffers of the powerful union representing the country’s roughly 20,000 Border Patrol agents, said the organization’s national president, Brandon Judd. “We know the FBI is looking at it,” said Judd, head of the National Border Patrol Council, which has forged a close alliance with President Donald Trump. Staffed and run largely by active-duty agents, the El Paso local represents the interests of more than 1,400 Border Patrol employees stationed across west Texas and New Mexico. In an interview, Russell, a veteran agent who continues to work for the Border Patrol, insisted that no money had disappeared on his watch. Read More A Group of Agents Rose Through the Ranks to Lead the Border Patrol.

On Friday, a letter condemning violence against Asian-Americans was signed by 23 Democratic governors and the governor of Guam, following an increase in hate crimes against the community over the last 12 months. However, of the 27 Republican governors in the US, Charlie Baker of Massachusetts and Larry Hogan of Maryland were the only two to sign the letter that showed solidarity with Asian-Americans. “Today, and every day, we stand in solidarity, in support, and in shared resolve with the Asian American community,” the letter, released on Friday, read. We condemn all expressions of racism, xenophobia, scapegoating, and anti-Asian sentiment.”Read more:“What is happening to Asian Americans is simply un-American. The letter was signed on Stop AAPI Hate’s virtual day of action, which was held to highlight prejudice and violence towards Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders.

– at the surge of migrants at the southern border. The House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, declares it a “crisis … created by the presidential policies of this new administration”. In fact, there’s no surge of migrants at the border. US Customs and Border Protection apprehended 28% more migrants from January to February this year than in previous months. To stop this, Democrats are trying to enact a sweeping voting rights bill, the For the People Act, which protects voting, ends partisan gerrymandering and keeps dark money out of elections.

President Joe Biden has intervened days after Georgia's sweeping new voting restrictions were enacted and has said the Justice Department is looking into the new law. The Justice Department's taking a look as well,' Biden confirmed as he spoke to reporters outside the White House. But the strongest words have been reserved for the president who called them an 'atrocity' of a law and said the U.S. Justice Department was 'taking a look'. On Friday, he accused Republicans there and in other states of mounting a broad assault on voting rights. Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said that it made elections safer.

BUSINESSSK Innovation's plant site in Georgia (SK Innovation)Calling the punishment by the United States’ trade watchdog “catastrophic and a harm to public interest,” South Korean battery maker SK Innovation said it was considering all options, including abandonment of its $2.7 billion manufacturing facilities in the US state of Georgia.In its latest appeal to the US International Trade Commission, SK Innovation alluded to halting the ongoing construction of its second battery manufacturing plant in Commerce City, Georgia, as well as abandoning the whole battery production, including energy storage systems, in the US, should the organization not reconsider the 10-year business ban it imposed on it. SK last year completed construction of the first electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia, and it is currently building a second plant there, slated for completion in 2023. Combined, the two would have a combined production capacity of 20 gigawatt-hours a year, enough for 250,000 electric vehicles. Yates said Wednesday that Biden should reject the ITC’s final ruling for the sake of the Georgia plant.The presidential veto should be made by April 11. In case of no veto, SK plans to file an appeal with the US Supreme Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.During SK’s shareholders meeting on Friday, a senior official explained about CEO Kim’s plans in the US.“Kim is visiting Georgia and Washington and speaking with local government officials to salvage the Georgia battery plant.

Calling the punishment by the United States’ trade watchdog “catastrophic and a harm to public interest,” South Korean battery maker SK Innovation said it was considering all options, including abandonment of its $2.7 billion manufacturing facilities in the US state of Georgia.In its latest appeal to the US International Trade Commission, SK Innovation alluded to halting the ongoing construction of its second battery manufacturing plant in Commerce City, Georgia, as well as abandoning the whole battery production, including energy storage systems, in the US, should the organization not reconsider the 10-year business ban it imposed on it. SK last year completed construction of the first electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia, and it is currently building a second plant there, slated for completion in 2023. Combined, the two would have a combined production capacity of 20 gigawatt-hours a year, enough for 250,000 electric vehicles. Yates said Wednesday that Biden should reject the ITC’s final ruling for the sake of the Georgia plant.The presidential veto should be made by April 11. In case of no veto, SK plans to file an appeal with the US Supreme Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.During SK’s shareholders meeting on Friday, a senior official explained about CEO Kim’s plans in the US.“Kim is visiting Georgia and Washington and speaking with local government officials to salvage the Georgia battery plant.

Show caption Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Twitch channel garnered a staggering audience of 439,000 viewers, all watching her in real time. Ocasio-Cortez’s Twitch channel garnered a staggering audience of 439,000 viewers, all watching her in real time (the record for a Twitch stream is about 628,000 concurrent viewers) with approximately 5.2 million viewers watching the stream in aggregate. But Ocasio-Cortez and Omar aren’t just famous people playing an unusually popular video game; they’re members of Congress trying to get out the vote. And in this, they achieved something most politicians attempt and fail at daily: they looked like completely normal people. You go where people are, and in 2020, young people are watching video games played on Twitch.

While Mr Biden has refused to reveal the contents of the letter, Mr Trump was asked in a new podcast interview released on Monday what he said to the incoming president. Read more:"The president wrote a very generous letter," Mr Biden said previously. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. After telling podcast host Lisa Boothe that he was sincere in wishing Mr Biden luck as the new president, Mr Trump quickly pivoted to say he didn't concede that he lost the election.

President Donald Trump considered and then rejected ordering a quarantine for residents of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Former Sen. Tom Coburn died at 72; the Oklahoma Republican was a conservative political maverick known for railing against federal earmarks. Country musician Charlie McCoy is 80. Country singer Reba McEntire is 66. Country singer Rodney Atkins is 52.

US Customs and Border Protection apprehended 28% more migrants from January to February this year than in previous months. The core message of the Republican party now consists of liesRepublicans continue to allege – without proof – that the 2020 election was rife with fraudulent ballots, many from undocumented migrants. This transformation in one of America’s two eminent political parties has shocking implications, not just for the future of American democracy but for the future of democracy everywhere. The secretary of state didn’t explicitly talk about the Republican party, but there was no mistaking his subject. People around the world witnessing the fragility of American democracy “want to see whether our democracy is resilient, whether we can rise to the challenge here at home.

Saturday Night Live skewered Donald Trump's comment this past week about how far-right protesters who stormed the Capitol building in January had been “hugging and kissing" police that day. During “Weekend Update”, co-host Colin Jost threw in a crack that “I’m not surprised that Donald Trump can’t tell the difference between kissing and assault.”The jab drew loud laughs and cheers from the audience. “Some of them went in and ... they’re hugging and kissing the police and the guards,” the former US president told Fox News this week of the protesters. Other jokes during the “Weekend Update” segment touched on this week’s Filibuster debate and Virginia abolishing the dealth penalty. Read our privacy notice Independent Culture Newsletter The best in film, music TV & radio straight to your inbox every week Thanks for signing up to the Independent Culture newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent.

A quarrel over allegations of human-rights abuses in China continued as Beijing announced retaliatory sanctions on individuals in the U.S. and Canada and the corporate fallout spread. Hennes & Mauritz AB stores in parts of China are being closed by their landlords after the Swedish fashion retailer’s comments on Xinjiang prompted an unofficial boycott. Then on Saturday, China’s Foreign Ministry announced sanctions targeting a Canadian lawmaker and a parliamentary committee on human rights, as well as the heads of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, known as USCIRF. Earlier in the week, the commission praised coordinated sanctions on Chinese officials by the U.S., Canada and European countries over China’s treatment of its ethnic Uyghur minority in Xinjiang. China’s previous sanctions on U.S. individuals “who have seriously undermined China’s sovereignty and interests on Xinjiang-related issues” remain in place, the ministry said.

US officials deliberately held a phone call with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab over an insecure line to allow the Chinese government to eavesdrop on their discussions about the origins of the coronavirus, Washington sources have told The Mail on Sunday. A Washington source said Mr Raab had been 'very supportive' during the phone call, which also included the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand – the intelligence sharing group of nations known as Five Eyes – in late December. 'So the Secretary of State, based on the frustration between the State Department and our closest allies by the end of the year, wanted to send a clear message.' However, a UK Government source said Mr Raab had not endorsed Mr Pompeo's actions, and merely 'listened as Pompeo set out what he was planning to do'. State Department officials, now reporting to Joe Biden, do not believe the virus leak was deliberate, rather that it was a catastrophic accident caused by poor safety procedures.

Former DHS Secretary Chad Wolf (left) has joined a chorus of ex-Trump officials in slamming the Biden administration for firing nearly every member of the agency's advisory council Friday. The Biden administration has been slammed for its handling of the issue as officials refuse to call it a 'crisis' and have repeatedly denied the media all access to CBP detention centers. 'The Biden administration is taking people who are testing positive for COVID-19 and locking them in cages side by side. The 19 Republican Senators on Tour Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. 'On the other side of the river is Mexico,' Cruz noted.

| Robert Reich Read moreDonald Trump demands the Biden administration “immediately complete the wall, which can be done in a matter of weeks – they should never have stopped it. US Customs and Border Protection apprehended 28% more migrants from January to February this year than in previous months. The core message of the Republican party now consists of liesRepublicans continue to allege – without proof – that the 2020 election was rife with fraudulent ballots, many from undocumented migrants. The secretary of state didn’t explicitly talk about the Republican party, but there was no mistaking his subject. People around the world witnessing the fragility of American democracy “want to see whether our democracy is resilient, whether we can rise to the challenge here at home.

Thanking Trump for Operation Warp SpeedFox News has been ablaze with calls for President Biden to publicly thank Trump for Operation Warp Speed. Trump should be thanked… as many times and in the same manner as he thanked President Obama. For example, Trump thanked Obama for a smooth transition. Trump thanked Obama for leaving 142 judgeships unfilled. In return Biden could thank Trump for not overthrowing the government of the United States.

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 26, 2021MARTY WALSHx Marty Walsh, the former mayor of Boston just confirmed as Biden's Labor Secretary, will be the first Cabinet member in U.S. history to be openly in 12-step recovery from addiction. — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 27, 2021REPUBLICAN SEN. JOHN CORNYNx . The crooked cop behind the arrests was given an award by Republican John Cornyn, but Vanita Gupta, now a Biden DOJ nominee, got the cases overturned. https://t.co/uEe3aUlq1T — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 27, 2021DEJOY ACTx House Democrats have introduced legislation to prohibit the Postal Service from lengthening mail-delivery windows. https://t.co/hpdYhEExc6 — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 27, 2021JASON MILLER

As we all know, the first COVID horror story outside Asia played out in Italy. Well, an article in today’s New York Times suggests that Brazil is headed for that same horror. Take the situation in Porto Alegre, which anchors Brazil’s fifth-largest metropolitan area (after Sao Paulo, Rio, Belo Horizonte and Brasilia). The patients began arriving at hospitals in Porto Alegre far sicker and younger than before. In Rio Grande do Sul, home to Porto Alegre, there’s a 240-person waiting list for ICU beds.

They have been doing so for several years, which The Post fails to note in its breathless coverage. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), historically a paper-pushing agency, was reportedly ordered by the previous administration to not communicate with then-President-elect Biden’s team. Both Cornyn and Cruz did nothing while the previous administration implemented humanitarian disasters like the anti-asylum Remain in Mexico policy, which the Biden administration has begun winding down. Where was the panic-stricken media coverage about the border ‘crisis’ then, and how the Republican administration had no policy answer? “Two years later, the press is once again playing along with Republicans, claiming a huge border surge is bad news for Democrats.”

Whiteness and the normalization of white racial identity throughout America's history have created a culture where nonwhite persons are seen as inferior or abnormal. Whiteness, to those born with a fortuitous skin pigmentation, immediately confers White privilege. This defensiveness derails the conversation, which means, unfortunately, that defining white privilege must often begin with defining what it’s not. September 30, 2020 White supremacy is the belief in the superiority of the white race, and that it should therefore dominate other races—especially the Black race. And, due to American white supremacy and the resulting apartheid, discrimination has, so far, bled into and through my Black American life.

But you see there was going to be a DEBATE on the floor of the U.S. House and Senate about this very same non-issue on Jan 6th. Even though Jan 6th was scheduled to be the routine process of counting the electoral votes that had already been certified by all the states. But Mo Brooks does not see it that way. Oh, and Mo Brooks really didn’t appreciate how the interview went either. And Republican voters really don’t think the Jan 6th was that big a deal.

Now that people are getting vaccinated, there’s a lot of misinformation that’s circling around and I’d like to set the record straight. The vaccines prevent us from getting severe disease requiring hospitalization. You can visit friends and family that have been fully vaccinated. Yes, you can visit fully vaccinated people inside without masks or social distancing as long as everyone is fully vaccinated. It’s best to stay home — after all, we don’t have “fully vaccinated” tattooed on our foreheads so it would look like we’re flouting the rules.

The Republican Party is unarguably mired in a historically deep trench of disinformation, division, and cultist devotion to a deranged former reality TV game show host. The Republican Party isn’t going anywhere, and we are going to win in 2022 and 2024! pic.twitter.com/sqPUQMqipT — GOP (@GOP) March 27, 2021The video in that tweet features a brief exchange from President Biden's press conference that Fox news found so appalling and boring. The GOP's official response to that was the inadvertently honest observation that "The Republican Party isn’t going anywhere." And that's the part that truly devastates the core raison d'etre of the Republican Party.

In “her mind” the number of deaths could have been “mitigated or decreased substantially.”Well, what exactly was in her “mind,” last spring? “We’ve hit our peak,” she would say, and that message would find its way back to Mr. Trump. Dr. Birx began using versions of the phrase “putting out the embers,” wording that was later picked up by the press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, and by Mr. Trump himself. So during the time that she now says deaths from COVID-19 “could have been mitigated or reduced substantially,” Birx was doing essentially nothing to achieve that end. Dr. Birx, who was afraid to challenge his unscientific rhetoric and wrongfully praised him."

Georgia Republican election official Gabriel Sterling told CNN on Saturday that the state’s new restrictive voting law was also motivated by revenge against an official who defied Donald Trump over his false claims of election fraud. The law also strips Georgia’s secretary of state of his role as chief elections officer. “I wouldn’t have written the bill this way,” said Sterling, the chief operating officer for the Secretary of State’s Office. Sterling has called the election the most secure and transparent election in Georgia history. Nevertheless, Sterling supports the new voting law, insisting it’s not going to “suppress” voting rights.

GettyDonald Trump falsely claimed the Capitol riot posed "zero threat" and defended his loyalists who stormed the building on January 6. Trump falsely claimed some rioters hugged and kissed Capitol police officers as they invaded the Capitol. Trump claimed that some of the rioters had "great relationships" with the Capitol police, although one officer died and more than 100 were injured after being attacked by violent rioters. "It was zero threat, right from the start, it was zero threat," Trump said. Still, Trump claimed his supporters are being "persecuted" by federal law enforcement because of their political beliefs.

Georgia Republican election official Gabriel Sterling told CNN on Saturday that the state’s new restrictive voting law was also motivated by revenge against an official who defied Donald Trump over his false claims of election fraud. President Joe Biden called the law an “atrocity” and “Jim Crow in the 21st Century.”The law also strips Georgia’s secretary of state of his role as chief elections officer. “I wouldn’t have written the bill this way,” said Sterling, the chief operating officer for the Secretary of State’s Office. Sterling has called the election the most secure and transparent election in Georgia history. Nevertheless, Sterling supports the new voting law, insisting it’s not going to “suppress” voting rights.

AdvertisementA similar scenario is playing out in Dallas, where a convention center has been outfitted to shelter migrant boys. In the meantime, it is relying on places like the San Diego Convention Center for temporary space. “We want to make sure they have a bona fide relationship.”Cots for the 1,450 unaccompanied migrant girls who will live at the San Diego Convention Center until mid-July. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)The move to adapt the convention center for migrant children comes one week after U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra approached Nathan Fletcher, chairman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)The San Diego County Board of Education will provide classes for the girls.

President Biden said this was an "un-American law to deny people the right to vote"US President Joe Biden has likened a new voting law in the state of Georgia to racist policies of the 20th Century US South, calling it an "atrocity". The law adds restrictions to voting that Mr Biden said disproportionately targeted black Americans. Republicans say they are streamlining voting procedures and trying to restore confidence in the election system. What did President Biden say? Mr Raffensperger, who has staunchly defended the integrity of the state's votes, also backed the new laws.

That senator is Joe Manchin III of West Virginia. As for pressure from the left, he said, tauntingly: “What are they going to do, they going to go into West Virginia and campaign against me? Other Senate Democrats, including Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, also share his reluctance. (It’s called “Almost Heaven,” the opening lyric to John Denver’s ode to West Virginia.) Try something.”A number of anti-filibuster Senate Democrats, though, are more focused on what Manchin’s support of the “talking filibuster” could portend.

Today is Sunday, March 28, the 87th day of 2021. In 1898, the US Supreme Court, in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, ruled 6-2 that Wong, who was born in the United States to Chinese immigrants, was an American citizen. In 1969, the 34th president of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower, died in Washington, D.C., at age 78. In 2000, in a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court, in Florida v. President Donald Trump considered and then rejected ordering a quarantine for residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Joe Biden won the presidency by promising to make politics boring again. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)Joe Biden won the presidency by promising to make politics boring again. After becoming president, Biden has hardly acted like someone seeking transformation. Congressional Democrats won a landslide victory in 1932, the year FDR first won the presidency. Victor Joecks’ column appears in the Opinion section each Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.

Seth Harris, now a top labor adviser to Biden, wrote a script for a Biden video promoting the union effort. Many Democrats admit Trump outmaneuvered them with his direct, blunt appeals to White workers. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) wrote an op-ed voicing carefully calibrated support for the Amazon union drive. ADIn his first two months, Biden has aggressively sought to cement support from unions and workers. While Biden has positioned himself staunchly alongside the Amazon workers, he also has some associations with the company through his vast political network.

With him is his attorney, Ginger Mooney, who represented several Saudi students facing legal troubles in Oregon. Don't EditThe Oregonian/OregonLive found criminal cases involving at least five Saudi nationals who vanished before they faced trial or completed their jail sentence in Oregon. Don't EditFeb 8, 2019: Not just Oregon: Saudi students in at least 8 states, Canada vanish while facing criminal chargesDon't EditDon't EditThey're not just in Oregon. Sen. Ron Wyden learned of the probe Wednesday during a meeting in his office with Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan, an aide to the lawmaker told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Then the king of Saudi Arabia got involvedColorado case shows the lengths to which the Saudi government will go in criminal cases involving Saudi nationals.

After a surge in violence against Asian Americans, thousands took part in protests across the country to raise awareness about racial discrimination that Asian Americans have experienced for decades, as organizers demanded legislative action to combat the issue. According to Stop AAPI Hate, roughly 3,800 hate crimes against Asian Americans have been reported from March 2020 to April 2021. #StopAsianHate — Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) March 26, 2021Many Asian Americans and allies shared their own stories online. On Friday night, the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans held a virtual worldwide vigil in honor of the Asian American women killed in the Atlanta-area shootings. Mr. Biden, who has urged Congress to pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, added, "Hate can have no safe harbor in America.

But instead of targeting drafting errors, she wanted two sections of the bill tossed out and two other parts revised. In this new version, transgender athletes could play college sports.It wasn’t quite that Noem had a change of heart. “If South Dakota passes a law that’s against their policy, they will likely take punitive action against us. That same night, Fox News aired a commercial promoting South Dakota. South Dakota spent $819,000 on it.Noem’s national profile was rising and Republicans in many states invited her to attend events, campaign for their candidates and speak at rallies.

On the hilly streets around his home in the Anza Vista neighbourhood of San Francisco, everyone knew Vicha Ratanapakdee as "grandpa". Image: Mr Ratanapakdee's daughter Monthanus says the Asian community should not be silent anymoreThe moments were recorded on a security camera across the road. "It makes me stand up and raise awareness for the Asian community to not be silent anymore." San Francisco is home to the oldest Chinatown in the US. Danny Yu Chang was heading back to his office in downtown San Francisco when he was assaulted.

Japan and Australia do not have the same kind of treaty-based alliance as Japan and the U.S. Nevertheless, it seems likely that the Japan-Australia relationship will develop into an alliance in substance if not in name. There are also growing calls for a stronger Japan-Australia alliance from within ASEAN. Nevertheless, the Japan-Australia relationship still falls well short of a true alliance. This would be the real added value of a Japan-Australia alliance.

Texas COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to see a downward trend more than two weeks after the state scrapped its mask mandate and allowed businesses to reopen at full capacity. Texas COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to drop, 17 days after it scrapped its mask mandate and allowed businesses to reopen at full capacity. 'The last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime, everything's fine - take off your mask, forget it. Tate Reeves who also ended the state's mask mandate this month. 'President Biden said allowing Mississippians to decide how to protect themselves is 'neanderthal thinking,'' Reeves tweeted at the time.

Major sporting events could be moved out of the state of Georgia if calls from Civil Rights groups are to be listened to. Calls to move The Masters golf tournament and for the MLB All-Star game to be moved come after the state passed a controversial voting law Thursday. The Masters is next month in Augusta Major League Baseball's All-Star Game is scheduled to be held this July in Atlanta. An op-ed written in the Los Angeles Times also made calls for the All-Star game to be moved by MLB. The new law which was signed on Thursday by Republican Governor Brian Kemp makes sweeping changes to Georgia election law, including certain provisions that will require driver's licenses or state ID.

President Biden Joe BidenDemocrats see Georgia as opening salvo in war on voting rights MLB could move All-Star game from Georgia after controversial new voter restrictions Biden fires majority of DHS advisory council members MORE is nominating Gayle Manchin, Sen. Joe Manchin Joe ManchinBiden nominates Manchin's wife to co-chair Appalachian Regional Commission The Hill's Morning Report - Biden shifts on filibuster Liberals think Biden just made getting rid of the filibuster easier MORE’s (D-W.Va.) wife, to be co-chair of a federal commission that works with states to strengthen the economy in the Appalachian region, the White House announced Friday. If confirmed by the Senate, Gayle Manchin will co-chair the Appalachian Regional Commission, an economic development partnership agency established in 1965 through which the federal government works with 13 states and 420 counties across the Appalachian region to help invest in communities and spur job creation. Winning over Manchin also proved critical for Biden in getting his $1.9 trillion coronavirus rescue package across the finish line earlier this month by using budget reconciliation. Gayle Manchin also previously served as president of the West Virginia Board of Education and the West Virginia Office of Education and the Arts. The commission's current state co-chairman is Virginia Gov.

Eighty-four percent of Democrats approved of Romney's vote and 11% disapproved, while 15% of Republicans approved and 76% disapproved. Independents backed Romney's vote 47%-33% (19% weren't sure). Overall, voters were evenly split 47%-47% on whether they approved of the Senate vote to acquit Trump. Immediately after the vote, the state Republican Party issued a statement expressing pleasure that Trump was acquitted and saying "we strongly disagree" with Romney's vote against him. Impeachment vote fallout:GOP Sen. Romney faces awkwardness, 'abuse' for defying TrumpAnd the Utah GOP is considering a measure to censure Romney for the vote.

To Democrats and their media megaphones, Jim Crow has risen from history’s grave and stalks our land again. He claimed the election changes “make Jim Crow look like Jim Eagle,” which makes no sense except to suggest he’s got birds on his brain. Brian Kemp, saying the changes represent “Jim Crow in the 21st century.”By then it was clear Jim Crow was the party’s official talking point. Stacey Abrams and Atlanta protesters both labeled the Georgia law “Jim Crow 2.0.” One activist called it “Jim Crow with makeup and cologne.” Another called it “Jim Crow in a suit and tie.”The list goes on, but you get the point. Because there is no truth to the president’s odious claims about the Georgia law, we are left with two options.

Former President Trump sat down with Judge Jeanine Pirro for an exclusive interview that will air on Fox News’ “Justice with Judge Jeanine” Saturday at 9 p.m.“A lot of people want me to” visit the border, Trump told Pirro. In the interview, Trump says that he will probably visit the southern border over the next few weeks. Instead, in the span of a just few weeks, the Biden Administration has turned a national triumph into a national disaster. They are in way over their heads and taking on water fast.”Republicans have been urging President Biden to visit the border to experience firsthand the overwhelmed facilities amid a border surge. The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities have been operating far beyond capacity amid a troubling surge in border crossers.

MISSION, Tex. (Michael Robinson Chavez/The Washington Post)Many of the migrants Vela finds in Rincon del Diablo say they are motivated by a complicated and varied set of personal and practical reasons that intersect where survival meets opportunity. Vela gets the age and nationality of the migrants and points them in the direction of a Border Patrol facility under a nearby bridge. Their first stop is often a rudimentary Border Patrol station or facility, where thousands of minors have stayed for days longer than legally allowed. They die.”Vela never finds out what happens to the migrants he meets after delivering them to busy Border Patrol agents.

But the country has been here before, in the aftermath of mass shootings. Regardless of which party is in power, little reform has happened. But the country has been here before, in the aftermath of mass shootings. Will this time be differentThe United States has faced two mass shootings less than one week apart. According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, nearly 20,000 Americans died from gun violence in 2020 — that’s more than any other year in at least two decades.

Earlier this year, White House said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration would release those standards on March 15. But that day passed two weeks ago, and there was still no word from the administration heading into the weekend. North American Meat Institution’s spokeswoman Sarah Little told Fox News that regulations like mandatory 6-foot social distancing and N95 masks would definitely affect production. She said industry workers need vaccinations to keep things moving. “People only spend about 10 to12% of disposable income on food.”CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESSJohn S. Nalivka, who has 30 years of experience in livestock and meat industry consulting, explained that the U.S. has built a very efficient meat industry that allows affordable meat prices.

Former President Donald Trump blasted Joe Biden's immigration policies Saturday on "Justice with Judge Jeanine," saying the new President is showing "no leadership," during a crisis that could "destroy our country." I don't know what they're doing. And they don't know what they're doing. They’re going to destroy our country. Since taking office, Biden has undone a number of Trump-era immigration policies, including halting funding for the border wall and ending the Remain-in-Mexico policy.

Former President Donald Trump reacted to Joe Biden's immigration policies on "Justice with Judge Jeanine" Saturday, criticizing the new administration for stopping construction of the border wall, saying other countries are "losing respect" for the United States. They should finish the wall, number one. He stopped construction of the wall. And this is a wall that it was -- look, we built almost 500 miles of wall, and it’s new wall. And they stopped construction.

"We're focused on the three witches," Weiser said, adding that he was also working on winning Republican majorities in the state's House and Senate. Do better, Michigan GOP." Do better, Michigan GOP. https://t.co/v14V0mJE4G pic.twitter.com/NC2XTuNs3c— Dana Nessel (@dananessel) March 26, 2021CBS News has reached out to Weiser and the Michigan Republican Party for comment. Saturday Sessions: The Weather Station performs "Loss"Saturday Sessions: The Weather Station performs "Tried To Tell You”Saturday Sessions: The Weather Station performs "Parking Lot"

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The leader of Michigan's Republican Party referred to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and two other top Democratic elected woman as “witches" that the GOP wants to “soften up” for a “burning at the stake” in the 2022 election. Someone asked Weiser about “witches in our own party.”He said: "Ma’am, other than assassination, I have no other way other than voting out. The Michigan Democratic Party and two Democratic members of the university board said Weiser, a major donor to the school, should resign. She wrote: “Witches who magically decrease Covid spread, increase voter turnout and hold sexual predators accountable without any help from the legislature?

The New York TimesSEOUL, South Korea — North Korea test-launched what it called a newly developed tactical guided missile ?Thursday, violating international sanctions. During a nighttime military parade last October, North Korea displayed a new, untested ICBM that looked bigger than any of the previous ones. North Korea has yet to demonstrate that its warhead can survive the intense heat and friction created by reentry. At a military parade earlier this year, North Korea displayed what looked like a bigger, upgraded version of KN-23. The arsenal ‘guarantees its success.’ North Korea has one of the largest standing armies in the world, with more than 1 million soldiers.

That’s likely to be the case for Vice President Kamala Harris, who this week was named the new point person on immigration. This is definitely not a ceremonial task,” said Nina Rees, a former deputy assistant for domestic policy to Vice President Dick Cheney. Harris’ team has clarified that the vice president does not own all of immigration policy. Kamarck’s argument bucks the traditional wisdom, which says if a vice president does well on thorny issues, more credit goes to the president and, if not, it gives the president some political cover. The matter of who gets praise, or blame, is even trickier when it’s clear the vice president has White House aspirations.

Former President Donald Trump said he will visit the border in the next few weeks after he was invited by Border Patrol as he blasts Biden for undoing his 'Remain in Mexico' policy. Now they stay in the United States, by the way, stay in and never leave.' Frankly they weren't coming into Mexico,' Trump said. Trump also said that Mexico had 28,000 soldiers who stopped people from coming in to the United States, before then touting his signature border wall. President Joe Biden claimed on Wednesday that a 'surge' of migrants at the southern border started during the Trump administration.

Michael D'Antonio is the author of the book "Never Enough: Donald Trump and the Pursuit of Success" and co-author, with Peter Eisner, of the book "High Crimes: The Corruption, Impunity, and Impeachment of Donald Trump." Maybe that's because they are a figment of Donald Trump's imagination. Describing the events of January 6, which led to the deaths of five people, Trump said, "It was zero threat, right from the start, it was zero threat. What's remarkable is just how effective his lies have been, especially when it comes to his insistence that the 2020 election was "stolen" due to widespread fraud. And this lie is what Republicans in Georgia used to justify sweeping new voting restrictions signed into law on Thursday.

Dr. Deborah Birx said thousands of Americans died preventable COVID-19 deaths. Dr. Deborah Birx, a former member of the White House coronavirus response team, said thousands of Americans died preventable COVID-19 deaths and that everything after the initial surge could've been mitigated. Birx was speaking during an interview with CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta for the network's upcoming coronavirus documentary that airs Sunday. Dr. Birx, who was afraid to challenge his unscientific rhetoric and wrongfully praised him." Another doctor interviewed by CNN Saturday said he agreed with Birx about the preventable COVID-19 deaths, but that it "happened on her watch."

Monetizing extremist contentIn the past, hate groups raised money by means such as charging dues, selling products or requiring the purchase of uniforms. In fact, crowdfunding and online content monetization enabled the extremists behind the “Stop the Steal” movement to make anti-democratic organizing a livelihood. Far-right activist and self-described “Stop the Steal” national organizer Ali Alexander, for example, has relied on websites like GiveSendGo, an alternative to the popular crowdfunding site GoFundMe, to secure funding for his activities. Instead of Patreon, a crowdfunding site popular with artists, journalists, musicians and other creators, extremists could use sites like Hatreon, founded by antigovernment extremist Cody Wilson. Crowdfunding sites played a critical role in the Capitol insurrection, providing money to help people to travel to Washington.

Brazil recorded its 300,000th COVID-19 death this week, a grim marker of a health care crisis that promises to worsen in the coming months in South America’s largest nation. The health systems in all but two of Brazil’s states are in dire condition, the institute said, leaving hospitals stretched for beds, oxygen and other basic medicines necessary to treat the coronavirus. On Tuesday, Brazil recorded more than 3,100 deaths, making it alone responsible for nearly one-third of the day’s global death toll. “The pandemic is not going to be controlled if Brazil is out of control,” Nicolelis said. “Brazil is the largest open-sky laboratory for viral mutations right now.

The incidents have drawn fresh attention to the long history of anti-Asian racism in the United States and President Biden has denounced attacks on Asian Americans. Anna E. Ko, a leader of the Korean American Society of Virginia, said many people she knows were reluctant to attend the rally. Another read: “Protect our Korean elders.”ADSpeakers addressed the group and onlookers enjoying the spring morning on the Mall. Seyang Jeong described harassment she had faced in the five years she has lived in the United States. But Chang questioned the lack of support from local leaders: “To be honest with you, where are the other elected officials?”

Put another way, Biden’s Arizona victory was a function in part of his flipping one of the most gun-centric places in the country. After the 2016 election, we declared that gun country was Donald Trump country; these data, it seem, tell a different story. The places with the most licensed dealers are populous, urban counties, places where there are a lot more stores of all types. Gun country remains Trump country, and vice versa. The places in the United States with the most gun retailers per person are places that tended to vote for Donald Trump.

mooremedia via ShutterstockCOVID-19 conspiracy theories have encouraged people to engage in some dangerous activities in the past few months. The accusations aimed at social media tend to take the same narrative form as many conspiracy theories. It sees only particular conspiracy theories, rather than the basic building blocks shared by all such theories. Why people believe conspiracy theories Political science and psychology research shows that the motivations to believe or disbelieve conspiracy theories are largely unrelated to particular methods of communication. Regardless of their long history, or their recent spread on social media, conspiracy theories do pose a problem for society.

"I’ve been working with state legislatures for several years to get them to pay attention to what I call the political process,” Mitchell said. “I love legislatures and working with legislators.”She similarly would not detail her conversations with Trump or say whether they involved the new voting fights. “I’m in touch with the president fairly frequently,” she said of Trump. Mitchell says she believes the courts used legal trickery to avoid ever truly addressing Trump’s allegations of voter fraud. “I have concerns with the election but I do not think the election was stolen," said Noah Wall, executive vice president of FreedomWorks.

It is by the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a lab conducting research into coronaviruses. A vaccine expert who suspects a lab leak said it may be 'a beautiful encapsulation of what everyone is surmising as the origin'. 'A lab leak is not 100 per cent certain but it seems at this stage the only logical source of origin. She denied this pointed to a lab leak, since Chinese officials told them that the scientists later tested negative for Covid-19. Liang Wannian, head of the official expert Covid panel, said there was no evidence of the virus in Wuhan before that month.

NATIONALThe captured image shows Sam Park, a Georgia state representative, speaking in a worldwide vigil held in Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday, to honor the victims of deadly shootings at three Atlanta spas. (Yonhap)Thousands join worldwide vigil to honor victims of Atlanta shootingsOver 2,000 people in the United States and from around the world have taken part in a vigil to honor the victims of recent shootings in Atlanta that left eight people dead, six of them women of Asian descent.The White House too mourned the deaths of the eight people while strongly denouncing violence against Asian-American communities on Friday, according to organizers. "For the last year we've had people in positions of Incredible power scapegoating Asian Americans," she said earlier. "Now is the time to stand with our Muslim and Jewish brothers and sisters; with immigrants and refugees, with the LGBTQ community. "The Embassy will continue to make every effort to protect Koreans from hate crimes in cooperation with the law enforcement authorities of the United States."

Michigan state GOP Chairman Ron Weiser took it all the way back to the 17th century when he made a remark about the assassination of Michigan’s governor, attorney general, and secretary of state — all of whom are women. The women he is calling “witches” are Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. Last year, Whitmer was the target of a foiled kidnapping or assassination plot by far-right extremists. Instead, he said that his words were “clearly being taken out of context.” They are not taken out of context. @MIGOP Chair Ron Weiser's comments don't reflect the values of the @UMich’s Board of Regents, faculty, and student body.

EXCLUSIVE: Fresh off a visit to the southern border, Sen. Mike Braun said Saturday that President Biden has a moral imperative to immediately see the "inhumane" and "dangerous" migrant situation firsthand. The Indiana Republican penned a letter to Biden on Saturday, obtained first by Fox News, which includes pictures Braun took Friday during his visit of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility in Texas. There were more than 18,000 unaccompanied minors in either Border Protection or Health and Human Services custody as of Thursday, according to homeland security records. Braun was part of a group of Senate Republicans making the trip to the south Texas border and expressed horror at the mounting crisis -- viewing packed border facilities and speaking to overwhelmed border agents. Border Protection encountered more than 100,000 migrants in February and those numbers are expected to increase dramatically in the spring and summer months.

She is also advising state lawmakers crafting the voting restriction proposals. Trump’s false claims of fraud have fueled a wave of new voting restrictions. More than 250 proposed voting restrictions have been proposed this year by mostly Republican lawmakers, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. She says she’ll use that role to “coordinate” conservative voting positions, particularly in opposition to H.R. She also is chair of the Public Interest Legal Foundation, a conservative election law project that she said may get involved in litigation against H.R.

(CNN) The former chief of staff to ex-President Donald Trump on Saturday pushed back against his former boss' recent attempt to whitewash the history of the January 6 Capitol riot. Mick Mulvaney, who stepped down as Trump's special envoy to Northern Ireland after the insurrection, called Trump's comments that his supporters were " hugging and kissing " police officers and posed "zero threat," despite widespread violence, "manifestly false." "I was surprised to hear the President say that. "It's not right to say there was no risk, I don't know how you can say that when people were killed," he added. Mulvaney was one of a handful of senior officials who resigned in the wake of the January 6 riot, including former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and former Trump deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger.

I don't think there's ever been a moment when Asian Americans had a movement." Many people, she said, view Asian Americans, even those born in the U.S., as foreigners — and have blamed them for the COVID-19 virus because it is believed to have begun in China. "You are police officers, our Planning Board, you are our council members," he said to Asian Americans in the crowd. This year, as hate crimes against Asian Americans have grown during the pandemic, an Anti-Defamation League survey found that 17% of Asian Americans said they had been harassed online, an increase of more than 50% from last year. Son, a rally organizer, said people across the nation have "become more racially conscious" over the past year and that Asian Americans are feeling threatened as perhaps never before.

From President Joe Biden on down, the administration is telling nonstop, bald-faced lies about the border crisis — while trying to stop the media from reporting the truth. Biden insists the surge is normal, when it’s setting records. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas insists the US-Mexico border is “closed” for everyone except migrant children seeking to enter the country alone. Trump had made significant progress toward securing the border, only for Biden to halt construction on his wall and end the “Remain in Mexico” policy. Be outraged, but also ask: How much else is the Biden administration lying about?

Donald Trump and Joe Biden during the final presidential debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 22, 2020. "Congratulations to Georgia and the Georgia State Legislature on changing their voter Rules and Regulations," Mr Trump said in a statement through his Save America PAC. Joe Biden has referred to the voting law as an "atrocity". In his statement, Mr Trump again repeated fraudulent claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Read moreMr Biden said the law had nothing to do with voting integrity, and was solely a means to suppress votes.

A woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by Bill Clinton has blasted the former president for hosting a virtual seminar on empowering women. Broaddrick, 78, was reacting to an announcement from the Clinton Foundation that the former president was scheduled to host the discussion for the 13th annual Clinton Global Initiative event on Friday. Juanita Broaddrick, a former nurse who publicly accused Bill Clinton of rape in 1999, took to Twitter this week to blast the event as 'despicable' and 'a joke'. VP Harris, Bill Clinton talk about 'empowering women' despite skeptics,' Broaddrick said in a follow up tweet. She also compared inviting Clinton to speak on women's empowerment to 'asking Jeffrey Dahmer to host a cooking class.'

From March 29 through April 4, debtors and our allies will be taking part in the Debt Collective's week of action to cancel ALL student loan debt. President Biden campaigned on a promise to forgive $10,000 of student loan debt for everyone, along with more relief for select borrowers. Student loan debt is a racial justice issue. Student loan debt is also an intergenerational issue, because now six million people between the ages of 50–64 and 870,000 people over the age of 65 still hold student loan debt. Student loan debt heavily impacts poorer states and regions, both rural and urban.

There were about 100,000 deaths that came from that original surge,” Birx told Gupta. Last March, Birx praised Trump for being “so attentive to the scientific literature and the details and the data” with regards to the outbreak. ADIn January, Birx defended her actions, telling CBS News that the White House “censored” her and that she had “always” considered quitting. ADOn Saturday, much as with the other times Birx has spoken out since Trump left office, her comments were met with frustration from Democrats. Dr. Birx, who was afraid to challenge his unscientific rhetoric and wrongfully praised him.”

The relationship between Asian American and Pacific Islanders and their place in American history is not, to many, nearly as obvious. By contrast, Asian American history is often footnoted or compartmentalized, recounted and analyzed as a subplot in the bigger narrative. For one, Asian Americans have been unjustly perceived as less assertive than African Americans in the fight for equality. Still, Asian American and Black history share something crucial: the burden of stereotype and scapegoating for the nation’s ills. Until we understand the ways in which the Asian American story is in many ways like the African American story, we won’t be able to reckon with tragedies like Atlanta.

The present almost always wins, because the gains from success — and the costs of failure — are immediate and concrete. By contrast, the consequences of not adequately managing the future are far-off, uncertain and abstract (and often a problem for another administration). To its credit, the Biden administration has linked fast action to broader goals: The president’s interim national security strategy and early executive orders emphasize climate change, and his pandemic response includes long-term investments in public health infrastructure. This myopia has national security implications. Often, as with the National Intelligence Council’s “Global Trends” report, efforts to imagine possible futures are disconnected from policy.

The Supreme Court has never held that the Second Amendment forbids densely populated urban areas from reasonably regulating weapons within their borders, a common practice since the nation’s founding. State “preemption” laws, however, limit local officials’ power to impose gun restrictions beyond those set by Congress and the state government. Today, more than 40 preempt some or all local gun regulation. And yet preemption laws forbid cities from imposing their own regulations to stem the violence. And there are constitutional and practical limitations on what local gun laws can achieve.

Republican lawmakers in the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Saturday wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, demanding answers about the Biden administration’s diplomatic moves related to the growing crisis at the southern border. All were abolished in the early days of the Biden administration. "The Biden administration believes there are more suitable ways to work with our partner governments to manage migration across the region," Blinken said in a statement last month on the ACAs. The 23 Republican House lawmakers, led by Ranking Member Michael McCaul wrote to Blinken about their "deep concerns" over the moves. Separately, they encourage Blinken to submit a five-year strategy to address the causes of illegal immigration "as soon as possible."

Former Acting ICE Director Tom Homan criticized the Biden administration's immigration policies on "Fox Report," saying the President 'insulted' every Border Patrol agent during his press conference Thursday. This administration has clearly shown they’re not going to enforce the law. 90% of the criminals they arrested last year they can’t arrest this year, so they totally decapitated ICE authority. And the Border Patrol stations are no longer border patrol stations, they’re welcoming centers. [Biden] made a statement…that the men and women who serve in the Border Patrol watched children die from starvation on the river.

Former Trump officials who served in the Department of Homeland Security are criticizing a move by the Biden administration to fire almost every member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council -- with one describing it as a "purge" designed to rinse the Council of opposing voices. But a number of former officials expressed surprise at how most of the Council was fired. Ken Cuccinelli, who served on the council after having served as acting deputy DHS secretary and acting head of U.S. He also said the Council had a number of meaningful projects underway that had now just been wiped out. "I’m surprised it took this long to take me off because I'm out there telling the American people the truth and I’m sure that’s upsetting a lot of people," he said.

Former President Trump sat down with Judge Jeanine Pirro for an exclusive interview that will air on Fox News’ ‘Justice with Judge Jeanine’ Saturday at 9 p.m."A lot of people want me to" visit the border, Trump told Pirro. In the interview, Trump says that he will probably visit the southern border over the next few weeks. Last week Trump accused Biden of causing "death and human tragedy" by undoing some of his border policies, which Biden had deemed inhumane. Instead, in the span of a just few weeks, the Biden Administration has turned a national triumph into a national disaster. Republicans have been urging President Biden to visit the border to experience firsthand the overwhelmed facilities amid a border surge.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas attorney general’s office is seeking to withhold or denying it has records related to the Republican official’s appearance at a pro-Donald Trump rally that preceded the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol. But the attorney general’s office has said there are no responsive records or that the requested material is exempt from disclosure. Short of a court intervening, it is Paxton’s office that determines which records are public or confidential under Texas law. See: Texas attorney general’s affair tied to criminal allegations“Triggered Texas Fake News Cartel strikes again,” he said on Twitter. The attorney general has also spent most of his time in office under a separate felony indictment.

Fox News headquarters in New YorkDominion Voting Systems has filed a $1.6bn (£1.2bn) defamation lawsuit against Fox News, arguing it promoted baseless claims of vote-rigging. Conservatives and Trump campaigners had claimed last year that the US company had altered its voting machines to deny re-election to Donald Trump. The false claim of a stolen election was promoted by Mr Trump and helped fuel the 6 January attack on Congress. Fox News said it would fight the "baseless lawsuit in court". Smartmatic, another election technology company, sued Fox Corporation and several top presenters for $2.7bn in January over similar claims.

The IndependentDonald Trump is considering a visit to the US-Mexico border but is giving Joe Biden enough space to “fail on his own”, according to aide Jason Miller. In a new podcast interview, Mr Miller was asked if the former president was planning to return to the border to highlight the growing migrant “disaster”. “We discussed that recently, I could see him doing that soon,” he told The Michael Berry Show following Joe Biden’s first press conference as president.

Some 32 per cent of all respondents had a very favourable opinion of Mr Biden and 18 per cent had a somewhat favourable view. When confined to those that identify as Republicans, 61 per cent chose “very favourable” and 23 per cent said “somewhat favourable”. If the two men were to run again in 2024, on election day Mr Biden would be about to turn 82, and Mr Trump would be 78. In the 2020 election, Mr Biden won 306 electoral college votes to Mr Trump’s 232. Both candidates achieved record numbers in the popular vote, with Mr Biden winning by a margin of 7 million with 81.3 million votes.

Tiger King star Joe Exotic, 58, has revealed that his 26-year-old husband Dillon Passage will remain married to him. Dillon reportedly called Joe in jail to tell him he wanted a divorce because he was lonely with his husband behind bars and hoped to date other men. Making it work: Tiger King star Joe Exotic (left), 58, has revealed that his 26-year-old husband Dillon Passage (right) will remain married to him. However Joe added that Dillon 'still answers the phone three times a day and will continue to be my support.' Dillon wrote on Instagram Friday: 'I will continue to have Joe in my life and do my best to support him while he undergoes further legal battles to better his situation.'

It is by the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a lab conducting research into coronaviruses. A vaccine expert who suspects a lab leak said it may be 'a beautiful encapsulation of what everyone is surmising as the origin'. 'A lab leak is not 100 per cent certain but it seems at this stage the only logical source of origin. She denied this pointed to a lab leak, since Chinese officials told them that the scientists later tested negative for Covid-19. Liang Wannian, head of the official expert Covid panel, said there was no evidence of the virus in Wuhan before that month.

None of them even care about Meghan Markle, let alone agree with my views on her. 'I understand that you don't like Meghan Markle,' he said, 'you've made it so clear a number of times on this programme. But I don't believe Meghan, so why would I apologise? Suddenly, I reached a moment of total gut clarity: f**k it, I wasn't going to apologise for disbelieving Meghan Markle, because the truth is that I don't believe Meghan Markle. If people want to believe Meghan Markle, that's entirely their right.

Related: The Atlanta shooting shows how racism, misogyny & homophobia are connectedOver the past several decades, Americans are increasingly likely to identify as having no particular religion. The authors of the new book tested the thesis that the right’s willingness to conflate religion and politics was driving people away from faith in general. After asking people about their religious identity, they then presented them with a single story where religion and politics were closely linked. Biden and Buttigieg prove that progressives don’t have to cede religion to the Republican Party. For many Americans, right-wing Christians have given Christianity a bad name, enough to drive them from religion altogether.

Amazon warehouse workers in Alabama got a surprise ally in U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, with the conservative lawmaker revealing on Friday that he supports their efforts to unionize. “ ‘When Senator Rubio says Amazon is “waging war on working class values,” does he mean our $15 starting wage, comprehensive benefits, or the paid parental leave we provide for hourly workers? This week, Amazon defended its decision, saying it did so because the book frames the LGBTQ identity as a mental illness. While the president didn’t mention Amazon by name, he said workers have a right to vote on unionization without interference from an employer. Also see: Congressional Democrats take the side of Amazon warehouse workers in AlabamaIn a statement Friday Amazon said, “When Senator Rubio says Amazon is ‘waging war on working class values,’ does he mean our $15 starting wage, comprehensive benefits, or the paid parental leave we provide for hourly workers?

One of the biggest emerging arguments against D.C. statehood is a thoroughly partisan one. The last time a D.C. statehood bill came up for a vote in the House before last year was in 1993, and more than 100 House Democrats voted against it. Both conservative icon Barry Goldwater and former president Richard M. Nixon favored D.C. statehood. Even Republican Donald Trump, after launching his presidential campaign in 2015, suggested that he was open to D.C. statehood (albeit at a time when he was opening up a D.C. hotel and the seriousness of his campaign was debatable). “For the members here today, how many of you saw D.C. statehood yard signs or bumper stickers or banners on your way to this hearing today?

Major corporations are finding ways to sidestep their pledges from January to withhold campaign contributions for GOP lawmakers who objected to the 2020 presidential election results. Tech giant Intel Corp., for example, contributed $15,000 from its political action committee (PAC) to the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) last month. Both companies defended their contributions, arguing they’re still adhering to bans on direct donations to those lawmakers. Critics point out that the end result is the same -- more corporate money for Republicans who objected to the election results. In the 2020 cycle, Intel gave $30,000 each to the NRCC, NRSC, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC).

"Surely by the 24th century, they would have found a cure for male pattern baldness," the producer was asked. and a recent hotness survey, published in The Sun, has announced that Prince William is the sexiest bald man. Prince William notched 17.6 million such returns. The survey was initiated by a surgical group called Longevita, which provides, ironically enough, hair transplants. Join Vanity Fair to receive full access to VF.com and the complete online archive now.

Beverly Cleary, the children's book author beloved by generations of young readers, has died in Carmel Valley, California, according to reports. Cleary lived with her family on a farm until she was six, when her father got a job at a Portland bank. In 1950, at age 34, she published her first book, Henry Huggins, featuring illustrations by Louis Darling, Jr. It also included a number of neighborhood kids, including Beatrice "Beezus" Quimby and her younger sister Ramona. Ramona the Pest followed in 1968, with Ramona the Brave in 1975, Ramona and Her Father in 1977, Ramona and Her Mother in 1979, Ramona Quimby, Age 8 in 1981, Ramona Forever in 1984, and finally Ramona's World in 1999.

But at some point in 2021 things will start getting better. And there’s good reason to believe that once the good news starts, the improvement in our condition will be much faster and continue much longer than many people expect. OK, one thing that probably won’t get better is the political scene. Day after day, Republicans — it’s not just Donald Trump — keep demonstrating that they’re worse than you could possibly have imagined, even when you tried to take into account the fact that they’re worse than you could possibly have imagined. One of our two major political parties no longer accepts the legitimacy of elections it loses, which bodes ill for the fate of the Republic.

A manhunt is underway in Texas for an “armed and...A meeting is held before Iran and China's foreign ministers sign a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement in Tehran, Iran on March 27, 2021. Iran and China's 25-year "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" covers various industries such as oil, mining, transportation, agriculture and industrial development. Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (right) and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi (left) sign a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement in Tehran, Iran on March 27, 2021. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (right) and Wang Yi pose after signing a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement in Tehran, Iran on March 27, 2021. The 25-year “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” is wide ranging and said to cover oil, mining, transportation, agriculture and industrial development.

Maine Republicans still love Sen. Susan Collins — even after she voted to impeach President Donald Trump. The state’s GOP committee on Saturday overwhelmingly rejected a resolution to censure the five-term incumbent for her February vote in Trump’s second impeachment trial. Sen. Bill Cassidy was censured almost immediately after his impeachment vote by Louisiana’s state party leadership. A censure vote for Sen. Richard Burr followed soon after in North Carolina. But Trump has repeatedly called for Republicans to cast out party dissidents like Collins, who he condemned as “grandstanders” in his speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference last month.

New Mexico rancher Russell Johnson joins "Fox News Live" to share his experience with the migrant surge on the southern border, saying Biden's plan is to "roll back everything that worked." RUSSELL JOHNSON: We've experienced everything from homes being broke into, cattle theft, vehicles stolen, other buildings broken into. When people say that Biden doesn't have a plan, his plan was to roll back everything that worked. What people don't realize is we don't have the family units and unaccompanied minors approaching our area of the border. It's not staying here, it's coming to a home near you.

At his Thursday news conference, Biden spoke glowingly about the possibilities the package will offer for jobs, productivity and global competitiveness. ADADFormer president Barack Obama took some steps in that direction with the Affordable Care Act, a more modest stimulus package and financial reform. ADADFor Biden, the obstacles to successfully enacting the next big package are obvious. The $15 minimum wage got knocked out of the stimulus package by the Senate parliamentarian for not fitting into the rules of reconciliation. Ultimately, it triggered a backlash against bigger government, which gave rise to the conservative movement that eventually elected Ronald Reagan as president in 1980.

“I knew that this thing was meant to be,” Oregon State coach Wayne Tinkle said. Story continuesRoman Silva (12) and Maurice Calloo (1) of the Oregon State Beavers celebrate after defeating Loyola Chicago on March 27. Senior guard Ethan Thompson ended up the offensive bell cow for Oregon State, as he finished with 22 points. Instead, this will go own as the defensive gem of this unlikely Oregon State run. Regardless, Oregon State has once again announced it’s not leaving the party.

Why Mr Trump thought that the answer would be anything other than "yes" is unknown. Will there ever be a Durham report?” Mr Trump said Friday night in an update from his 45 Office email account. Even though Mr Trump has been exiled from social media, his critics are not, and used their platform to criticise the strange statement. Ross Garber, a CNN political and legal commentator and lawyer, said the former president should not hold his breath waiting for Mr Durham. Many interpreted the statement not as Mr Trump expressing frustration, but of teasing out his next move.

Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) on Friday blasted Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in a Twitter tirade, accusing him of fearmongering about an increase of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border instead of focusing on issues directly affecting his constituents. “The truth is, the number of individual asylum seekers and immigrants seeking to come to this country is the SAME or LOWER than it was in 2019 when Trump was President (and you were, apparently, Senator),” O’Rourke wrote. “This isn’t any more of a crisis today than it was then.”You’re in a Border Patrol boat armed with machine guns. If you’re looking for a crisis to cosplay Senator for, I’m happy to point you in the right direction. https://t.co/mDyWs6rQOM — Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) March 26, 2021The state you “represent” in the Senate is the least insured in the nation.

Much of the 2008 economic collapse was fueled by losses suffered by banks and hedge funds that owned the complex securities. At a 2010 hearing, the panel’s now-retired chairman, Michigan Democrat Carl Levin, blasted the executives over an internal email that labeled one of the securities Goldman was selling as “one sh**ty deal.”“Your people think it’s a piece of crap and go out and sell it,” Levin said at the hearing. The government says the appeals court should have considered Goldman’s contention that its assurances were too generic to prop up the share price. Part of the problem, he said, is that the case focuses on “trivial, procedural questions” that the justices, with little expertise in securities law, won’t fully comprehend.“They will not do anything useful,” said Pritchard, who’s recently written a book on the Supreme Court and securities law. “They are in over their heads.”The case is Goldman Sachs v. Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, 20-222.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2021 Bloomberg L.P.

That's likely to be the case for Vice President Kamala Harris, who this week was named the new point person on immigration. This is definitely not a ceremonial task,” said Nina Rees, a former deputy assistant for domestic policy to Vice President Dick Cheney. Harris' team has clarified that the vice president does not own all of immigration policy. Kamarck's argument bucks the traditional wisdom, which says if a vice president does well on thorny issues, more credit goes to the president and, if not, it gives the president some political cover. The matter of who gets praise, or blame, is even trickier when it's clear the vice president has White House aspirations.

"We should not be intimidated about speaking out," said Paula Park, the president of the Korean American Community Association of Greater Washington. Kim, with tears in his eyes, stood back and watched as community leaders spoke against hate attacks on Asians. AdvertisementThe white chrysanthemum is a symbol of mourning in Korean culture, and the rally was in part a somber vigil for the shooting victims. Seyang Jeong described harassment she had faced in the five years she has lived in the United States. "Please stop Asian hate."

A group of top West Side leaders on Saturday urged city officials to wrap up their investigation into The Loretto Hospital vaccine scandal and start sending doses to the Austin neighborhood safety net again as soon as possible. “People believe in The Loretto Hospital,” Ford said during a virtual news conference with other members of the West Side Black Elected Officials group. Hospital officials have acknowledged other missteps by top executives, though. Miller also provided vaccine doses to more than 200 members of his southwest suburban church. We will continue to be a viable institution in the Austin community for health care and for employment moving forward.“Sharon Grant, a director of the Loretto Hospital Foundation, said the facility is already feeling the effects of the fiasco on its finances.

If you think the mainstream media affords President Biden preferential treatment — and believe me, I do — it’s nothing compared to the leaving-alone they give Vice President Kamala Harris. Is it normal for the vice president to get less coverage than the president? After months of fear-mongering over the safety of the vaccine, Harris suddenly spun a different story. The polling data during the primaries proved that Kamala Harris can’t win over voters. Vice President Harris is no laughing matter.

The Leaders Summit on Climate talks, scheduled to be held virtually on 22 and 23 April, are an opportunity for the US to shape, hasten and deepen global efforts to cut climate-wrecking fossil fuel pollution, administration officials told the Associated Press. The talks are also designed to revive a US-convened forum of the world’s major economies on climate that previous administrations, Republican and Democrat, had allowed to lapse. They will also mark the first time a US leader has attended a major international climate discussions in more than four years. Led by US climate envoy John Kerry, US officials have reportedly been emphasizing US climate intentions during early one-on-one talks with foreign leaders. Against that backdrop, the climate talks – coming seven months ahead of November’s UN global climate sessions in Glasgow – will offer a deliberate test of whether, after four years of isolationist and aggressive diplomatic non-compliance, the US still has power to shape global decision-making.

"Congratulations to Georgia and the Georgia State Legislature on changing their voter Rules and Regulations," Mr Trump said in a statement through his Save America PAC. Joe Biden has referred to the voting law as an "atrocity". Read moreMr Biden said the law had nothing to do with voting integrity, and was solely a means to suppress votes. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent.

A total of eight women have now come forward to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior including three former and two current aides in his office. DeRosa has not been accused by the AG's office of any wrongdoing in the sexual harassment probe and lawyers for the Cuomo administration said subpoenas are standard practice in investigations of this nature. Calls were made from Cuomo's office to six former employees asking them about Boylan after accusations against Cuomo first emerged. Pictured with CuomoWhen the allegations surfaced, Cuomo's office released her personnel records, which included disciplinary recommendations against her. Her comments came just two weeks after the AG revealed Cuomo's office had grossly downplayed the number of nursing home deaths by around 50 percent.

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), whose political career began with a bitter 1994 Senate race in Massachusetts against incumbent Ted Kennedy, was granted the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award on Friday for voting to convict President Trump in his first impeachment trial. Romney went on to vote convict Trump a second time, after he was impeached in January for inciting the Capitol insurrection. "He characterized his vote to convict as “the most difficult decision I have ever faced,” and acknowledged that he would suffer significant political consequences. Nevertheless, Romney said he could not 'disregard what I believe my oath and the Constitution demands of me for the sake of a partisan end.'" The other side: "I’m humbled by the Kennedy family’s recognition today.

Boehner’s backing of Gonzalez puts him in direct confrontation with Trump, who is supporting Gonzalez’s primary opponent, Max Miller. Trump recently hosted a fundraiser for Miller at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. ADVERTISEMENTTrump has vowed to back primary opponents of any Republican who voted to impeach him. Gonzalez was one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in the House. The conservative Club for Growth recently said it will be targeting Gonzalez and Rep. Liz Cheney Elizabeth (Liz) Lynn CheneyAnti-Cheney measure stalls in Wyoming Moderate Democrats warn leaders against meddling in Iowa race House Republicans who backed Trump impeachment warn Democrats on Iowa election challenge MORE (R-Wyo.)

The Biden administration is acting on a number of fronts to reverse Trump-era restrictions on immigration to the United States. The Biden administration has proposed legislation that would create new ways for immigrants to legally enter the United States. Biden’s proposal would expand access to family-based green cards in a variety of ways, such as by increasing per-country caps and clearing application backlogs. This trailed only the H-2A visa for agricultural workers, which accounted for nearly a quarter (24%) of temporary visas. The Biden administration is expected to review policies that led to increased denial rates of H-1B visa applications under the Trump administration.

The influx of migrants to the U.S. southern border has taken over the news — and climate change, among other factors, ensures it won't be going away. Driving the news: During President Biden's first press conference Thursday, questions about the renewed flow of migrants — including unaccompanied minors — dominated the discussion. By the numbers: The World Bank estimates that three regions — Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia — will generate 143 million more climate migrants by 2050. Migration from the worst-hit regions is arguably one of the most necessary aspects of any adaptation to climate change, yet it will run headlong into the political obstacles around border control. Be smart: Climate change's precise role in migration is tangled up with more immediate factors, like security and economic well-being.

DUBAI (Reuters) -China and Iran, both subject to U.S. sanctions, signed a 25-year cooperation agreement on Saturday to strengthen their long-standing economic and political alliance. China has spoken out often against U.S. sanctions on Iran and partly contested them. “Cooperation between the two countries is very important for the implementation of the nuclear accord and the fulfilment of obligations by European countries,” Rouhani said, according to his official website. “Under the new administration, the Americans want to reconsider their policy and return to the nuclear accord, and China welcomes their move,” Wang said. He also promised that China would provide more coronavirus vaccines to Iran, the Middle Eastern country worst-hit by the pandemic.

Donald Trump-Supporting Boater Buzzes Through SpaceX Splashdown Zone, Prompting OutrageAdded: 03.08.2020 7:03 | 8 views | 0 commentsSource: arstechnica.comCrew Dragon splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday after spending two months on the International Space Station. Emre Kelly, who covers space topics for USA Today, was following the event closely while commenting on social media. Did a private boat flying a Trump flag just approach Crew Dragon then have to be forced out?" On a good day, it's dangerous for the SpaceX recovery crew + boat. More in feeds.inquisitr.com » Social media, Mexico, USA, SPA, NASA Tags: Donald TrumpComments: Comments: Tags advertisingCopyright © 2008 - 2021 USweekly - all rights reserved Contact us

A 'Galactic Federation' Of Aliens Has Made Contact With The United States, Former Israeli General ClaimsAdded: 08.12.2020 11:06 | 9 views | 0 commentsSource: www.techquila.co.inA former Israeli general is claiming that both the and Israel have been in contact with aliens for years. Haim Eshed, who served as the head of the Israeli space security program for 30 years and is currently a professor, made the comments in an interview with the Tel Aviv-based newspaper Yediot Aharonot. In addition, the retired general said that aliens are not only communicating with human scientists, but working with them. Over the past couple of years, both the United States and Israel have ramped up their extraterrestrial exploration programs. More in feeds.inquisitr.com » Middle East, Israel, Scientists, President, United States, Universities, Mars, SPA, NASA, UFO Tags: FEDComments: Comments:

Drug Pitched to Trump for Covid-19 Comes From a Deadly PlantAdded: 20.08.2020 20:10 | 13 views | 0 commentsSource: myfox47.comThe chief executive of My Pillow, a Trump donor, claims oleandrin is a miracle cure for Covid-19. But no studies have shown that it is safe or effective, and the shrub it’s derived from is poisonous. More in www.nytimes.com »

Added: 27.03.2021 13:18 | 26 views | 0 commentsDemocrats rebuked GOP Chairman Ron Weiser’s rhetoric as "sexist" and "dangerous" at a time when elected officials villainized by Trump and other Republican leaders have faced armed protests, harassment and death threats.

Added: 27.03.2021 20:09 | 10 views | 0 commentsThe Maine GOP voted Saturday against censoring its longtime Senator Susan Collins over her vote to convict former President Donald Trump for incitement of an insurrection.

Added: 27.03.2021 22:08 | 3 views | 0 commentsFormer Trump officials who served in the Department of Homeland Security are criticizing a move by the Biden administration to fire almost every member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council -- with one describing it as a “purge” designed to rinse the Council of opposing voices.

Added: 18.06.2020 19:30 | 12 views | 0 commentsThe U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday dealt President Donald Trump a major setback on his hardline immigration policies, blocking his bid to end a program that protects from deportation hundreds of thousands of immigrants - often called "Dreamers" - who entered the United States illegally as children.

Former White House aide Bolton says Trump not 'fit' to be presidentAdded: 18.06.2020 19:47 | 5 views | 0 commentsFormer top White House aide John Bolton delivered a damning indictment of his former boss, saying Donald Trump's behavior in office and dealings with foreign leaders showed he was unfit to be president of the United States.

Added: 18.06.2020 19:47 | 12 views | 0 commentsU.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday revelations in a book by a former top White House aide show President Donald Trump is unfit and unprepared to be president and Democrats will continue oversight of the Republican president's behavior.

Meanwhile, a strain of ransomware called DearCry has been piggybacking off the same Microsoft Exchange vulnerabilities originally exploited by Chinese hackers for espionage worldwide. On Friday, MIT Tech Review reported that the hackers are agents from a Western government who were conducting a counterterrorism operation. And while ransomware attacks were a high-profile source of risk in 2020, the number of individual incidents totaled 2,474, with losses of over $29.1 million. IC3 data is imperfect, because not all incidents are reported—especially in cases like ransomware attacks, where victims are hesitant to admit that they paid attackers. The prolific REvil ransomware group asked a record-breaking $50 million in payment to decrypt Acer's systems and avoid having their exfiltrated data leaked.

Photo: Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesA legal effort to try to overturn the results of the 2020 election is still ongoing. “It’s the ultimate in hypocrisy, in my mind,” said Hinson, who voted to certify the 2020 presidential election. While the process of contesting an election in the House may be common, it rarely leads to a result being overturned. Dean Philips, a two-term representative from Minnesota, tweeted on Monday, “Losing a House election by six votes is painful for Democrats. It is an issue that energizes base voters, is perfect fodder for Fox News segments and Wall Street Journal editorials, without alienating any swing voters and helps memory-hole the ugly aftermath of the 2020 election.

Thus, in 2008, Barack Obama touted his ambition to change “the trajectory of America” in the same way that Ronald Reagan had done. By May 2020, Biden himself was broadcasting an ambition to be the next FDR. As Ackerman writes:Biden’s COVID relief plan is what you would have expected a President Joe Biden to pass in an emergency. The Biden coalition may be incapable of delivering a Great Society, but a markedly better one is within reach. In terms of partisan polarization, early Biden looks more like early Trump than he does like any previous president.

An Ohio college professor who resisted his school’s orders to go along with transgender students’ preferred pronouns has won his First Amendment case before a federal appeals court. Circuit Court of Appeals said that Shawnee State University violated Prof. Nicholas Meriwether’s rights of free speech and free exercise of religion by punishing him for resisting school rules that forced him to address students in the terms of their choosing. The court’s decision, written by a judge appointed to the bench by President Trump and issued Friday, upheld Meriwether’s argument. Meriwether, a 25-year member of the Shawnee State faculty, was reprimanded in 2016 after a transgender student complained that he used of “Mr.” instead of “Ms.” when responding to the student in class. A student walks to class on the campus of Shawnee State University.

EXCLUSIVE: Fresh off a visit to the southern border, Sen. Mike Braun said Saturday that President Biden has a moral imperative to immediately see the "inhumane" and "dangerous" migrant situation firsthand. The Indiana Republican penned a letter to Biden on Saturday, obtained first by Fox News, which includes pictures Braun took Friday during his visit of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility in Texas. There were more than 18,000 unaccompanied minors in either Border Protection or Health and Human Services custody as of Thursday, according to HHS records. Braun was part of a group of Senate Republicans making the trip to the south Texas border and expressed horror at the mounting crisis -- viewing packed border facilities and speaking to overwhelmed border agents. Border Protection encountered more than 100,000 migrants in February and those numbers are expected to increase dramatically in the spring and summer months.

An elected official in Ohio made a powerful statement about anti-Asian violence during a town hall meeting this week when he showed off the scars he got while serving in the U.S. Army for 20 years. “I’m 69 years old and I’m going to show you what patriotism, the questions about patriotism, looks like. Here is my proof,” said Wong, lifting up his shirt to reveal the scars. Story continues“In the last few years, things are getting worse and worse,” said Wong. But there are some ignorant people that will come up to me and say that I don’t look American or patriotic enough.

The United States Postal Service is a mammoth—hulking and hurtling towards extinction. Once a review has been completed by the Postal Regulatory Commission, the board of governors can implement those changes. Any price change would need to be approved by the Postal Service Governors and reviewed by the PRC. Managing the United States Postal Service is no small task. But the Postal Service hasn’t turned a profit in the 14 years since President George W. Bush’s 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act was signed.

Lindsey Graham among 18 Republicans who attacked Biden over border (Getty Images)Senator Lindsey Graham has hit out – telling a reporter to “Do your job” – after being asked what Republicans would to do solve America’s decades-long immigration problem, rather than simply blaming President Joe Biden and the Democrats. While Mr Biden is scrambling to put extra resources where they are needed, he has been attacked for having an “open border” by people such as Mr Cruz, and other Republicans. Read our US politics live blog“All of us today witnessed the Biden cages,” Mr Cruz told reporters after disembarking from one of the patrol vessels, all of them equipped with machine guns. Mr Graham has had something of a shifting position on immigration reform over the years. Earlier this year, Mr Graham co-sponsored an immigration bill in the Senate with Mr Durbin.

Refinery29Georgia became the first state to impose new voting rights restrictions under the Biden administration Thursday. More rigid ID requirements on their own will always impact Black voters more harshly. “Rather than grappling with whether their ideology is causing them to fail, they are instead relying on what has worked in the past,” said voting rights activist Stacey Abrams. When she ran for governor in Georgia in 2018, Abrams centered voter suppression in her campaign. Such laws will continue to disenfranchise Black voters and voters of color.

The photos document asylum seekers’ final moments in San Diego before they board planes to reunite with loved ones they’ve spent sometimes years trying to reach. AdvertisementAdvertisementA child accepts a food delivery from Eitan Peled of Jewish Family Service in San Diego. AdvertisementVolunteers with Jewish Family Service help with food delivery for asylum-seeking families in San Diego. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)AdvertisementWhile some shelter staff are transporting asylum seekers to the San Diego airport as early as 3:30 a.m., Peled’s days typically start around 7:30 at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Clark said she’s seen tears of joy streaming down asylum seekers’ faces as they walk to the bus.

Threats to fine county election officials and overturn results. Brian Kemp signed a bill Thursday to give the GOP-dominated Legislature greater influence over a state board that regulates elections and empowers it to remove local election officials deemed to be underperforming. A South Carolina proposal would give lawmakers new oversight of the members appointed to the currently independent State Election Commission. The board could then remove local election officials and replace them. “It’s really a shame because our local election officials, in many ways, were heroes last year, and to see them attacked by their state lawmakers is really unfortunate,” she said.

Erik Larson | BloombergNEW YORK — The New York attorney general has been investigating former White House strategist Steve Bannon, who was pardoned by Donald Trump on his last day as president, according to a person familiar with the matter. “We Build the Wall” was a private-sector effort to support Trump’s 2016 campaign promise to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Bannon was charged with fraud in federal court last year over the alleged scheme, leading to his pardon hours before Trump left the White House. Yet Trump can’t shield his former aide to the state-level probes because presidential pardons apply only to federal cases. The Washington Post reported the attorney general’s role earlier.

But it’s not only foreign Muslim terrorists the FBI can’t be bothered lugging. But it was a Friday afternoon, so the FBI “disconnected” his call and didn’t bother to pick him up. But there have been some cases that the FBI has been on top of:Lady Gaga’s stolen French bulldogs. Now you probably haven’t heard anything about how the FBI had this latest alleged Mideast mass murderer on its radar screen. Will there ever be a Durham report?”When the phone don’t ring, Mr. President, you’ll know.

Republican senator Ted Cruz has drawn criticism for taking a trip to America’s southern border as the conservative Texan politician once again became the butt of internet jokes and memes. In fact, the number of border crossings under the Biden administration largely mirror those under the former Trump administration. Cruz was accompanied by 18 other Republican senators including John Cornyn, Susan Collins, and Linsey Graham. is this the part where the velociraptor comes out and eats him https://t.co/aNpvh1VuxE — Nate Monroe (@NateMonroeTU) March 26, 2021Comedians on Twitter capitalized on the Republican senator’s stunt. Ted Cruz is going to get to Cancun by any means necessary pic.twitter.com/aZjNhkR4jn — Angry Staffer (@Angry_Staffer) March 27, 2021Yet more compared the jaunt to a scene from Deliverance, a film about four city-slickers that venture to the rural backwoods of Georgia by canoe.

Brian Kemp over the passage of Georgia's new election bill, comparing it to the May murder of George Floyd. Johnson was on CNN in the aftermath of the passage of the state's legislation, which puts new restrictions on voting in the state. 'Just like that officer had his knee on the neck of George Floyd, what the governor was inside closed doors in secret doing was putting his knee on the neck of Georgia's voters,' Johnson said during his segment. Many of Donald Trump's claims of election fraud focused in on Georgia and Trump demanded Kemp overturn the results of the election in the state, which Kemp refused. 'The voters of Fulton county, the voters of Georgia, will not allow this just outrageous legislation to be the law of the land,' Johnson said to CNN.

The number of coronavirus deaths in the US would have 'decreased substantially' if cities and states had learned from the first surge that claimed 100,000 lives, Dr Deborah Birx said. Birx, who spearheaded the Trump administration's response to the pandemic, claimed subsequent surges could have been 'mitigated' if the lessons had been learned and acted on. ET on CNN, Dr Birx has no doubt that the developing outbreak could and should have been handled differently. All of the rest of them, in my mind, could have been mitigated or decreased substantially.' 'So, Dr. Redfield was mentioning that he was giving an opinion as to a possibility.

Republican senators say a Biden official urged them to delete photos they took of an overcrowded migrant facility they toured at the southern border on Friday. Despite promising 'transparency', Biden officials have refused to let journalists into the overcrowded Donna facility - as criticism surrounding the border crisis continues to grow. Republican senators say Biden officials urged them to delete photos they took of an overcrowded migrant facility they toured at the southern border on Friday. 'If you were an unaccompanied minor, you were sent over to the Donna facility, which we went over and visited. 'The Biden administration is taking people who are testing positive for COVID-19 and locking them in cages side by side.

AdvertisementDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS) chief Alejandro Mayorkas has been slammed for firing 32 members of the agency's advisory council, including several Donald Trump allies, in the middle of the border crisis. Mayorkas did not rule out the possibility that some of the fired members could be reappointed to the newly-formed council. A total of 32 members have lost their positions including all Trump-era appointees - as well as more longstanding members from earlier administrations. 'The Biden administration is taking people who are testing positive for COVID-19 and locking them in cages side by side. 'On the other side of the river is Mexico,' Cruz noted.

Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) on Friday blasted Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in a Twitter tirade, accusing him of fearmongering about an increase of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border instead of focusing on issues directly affecting his constituents. “The truth is, the number of individual asylum seekers and immigrants seeking to come to this country is the SAME or LOWER than it was in 2019 when Trump was President (and you were, apparently, Senator),” O’Rourke wrote. “This isn’t any more of a crisis today than it was then.”You’re in a Border Patrol boat armed with machine guns. If you’re looking for a crisis to cosplay Senator for, I’m happy to point you in the right direction. https://t.co/mDyWs6rQOM — Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) March 26, 2021The state you “represent” in the Senate is the least insured in the nation.

(CNN) The Maine Republican Party's state committee on Saturday rejected a censure measure against Sen. Susan Collins, following her vote earlier this year to convict former President Donald Trump in his Senate impeachment trial. Collins, who won a competitive reelection last fall in a state that President Joe Biden carried, escapes censure as some of her Republican colleagues in Congress have faced backlash at home, including censures from their state parties, for bucking the former President. The committee's final vote was 19-41 to censure Collins, her office said in a statement, which the Maine Republican Party also confirmed to CNN. "Party leadership considers this matter settled now and the team is moving on to preparing to win elections in 2022," Jason Savage, Maine GOP's executive director, told CNN in an email Saturday. In a statement Saturday, Collins called the committee's vote "a testament to the Republican Party's 'big tent' philosophy that respects different views but unites around core principles."

"Regardless of which president or party controlled the White House, the United States has never fully investigated the civilian cost of its operations in Yemen." —MwatanaThe report—entitled Death Falling From the Sky: Civilian Harm from the United States' Use of Lethal Force in Yemen (pdf)—was published by Mwatana for Human Rights. "At least 38 Yemeni civilians, including 13 children, six women, and 19 men, were killed in these operations," the report notes. The report "raises serious concerns about the extent to which the United States is complying with international law in its use of lethal force in Yemen." "The United States is failing to investigate credible allegations of violations, to hold individuals responsible for violations accountable, and to provide prompt and adequate reparation," it states.

“There is a bull horn of racism, and it is painted Conservative blue.”Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The president of the province’s own human rights commission said last October that systemic racism was a reality in Quebec Various Quebec politicians condemned Attaran’s comments, some saying he was racist himself. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. • Email: tblackwell@postmedia.com | Twitter: tomblackwellNPShare this article in your social networkShopping essentials Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., said the Customs and Border Protection facility in Donna, Texas, was "completely overwhelmed." Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said he was "absolutely stunned" with the conditions he saw Friday morning at the CBP facility. The Biden administration is struggling to grapple with an increase of migrants coming to the U.S.-Mexico border. The Biden administration earlier this week released photos and two videos of the CBP facilities in Donna and El Paso, Texas. The Biden administration has conceded that the CBP facilities are not suitable for children.

Mullah Fazel Mazloom, sent to Qatar in 2014Mullah Mazloom, sometimes identified as Mullah Mohammad Fazl, was among five Taliban members sent to Qatar in exchange for the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was held prisoner by the militant Haqqani network in the tribal area of Pakistan’s northwest frontier. He and the other four Taliban prisoners who were traded for the release of Sergeant Bergdahl live as guests of the Qatari government like many expatriates in Doha. Instead, neighboring Oman agreed to take him, along with 29 other detainees, in one of the most successful resettlement programs. As a rule, former detainees in Oman refuse to speak with foreign reporters, apparently at the urging of the host nation.

The Maine GOP voted Saturday against censoring longtime Sen. Susan Collins over her vote to convict former President Donald Trump for incitement of insurrection. HOW SUSAN COLLINS DEFIED DEMOCRATSSeven GOP senators voted to convict Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, but most were not treated so kindly by their party back home. The Alaska GOP censured Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the only one of the seven who faces reelection next year. The Louisiana GOP censured Sen. Bill Cassidy and the North Carolina GOP censured Sen. Richard Burr. Moves to censure Sen. Mitt Romney in Utah have been unsuccessful.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said President Biden’s "Neanderthal thinking" quip about states removing their mask mandates was an expression of his "frustration and exasperation." Tate Reeves "took offense" to Biden's 'Neanderthal’ remark. MCENANY RIPS BIDEN'S 'NEANDERTHAL' REMARK, COMPARES TO CLINTON'S 'DEPLORABLES' INSULT"People across the country have sacrificed, they haven’t had the information they need from the federal government. Psaki said the White House’s focus has been on ensuring there are enough vaccines, vaccinators and vaccine locations to go around. "There were not enough of any of those things when he [Biden] took office," she said.

As a result, the judge ordered that the financial information be turned over for Ms Weisslberg and her attorneys to review. They ended up taking seven boxes of my documents and scanning them, going through them," Ms Weisselberg told Business Insider. "Since the Bloomberg article came out – I don't think they realised that I had that stuff," Ms Weisselberg said. However, Ms Weisselberg said Mr Weisselberg is unlikely to flip. She described him as being obsessed with how Mr Trump viewed him, and said he cherished the time he spent with the former president.

Share this Story: Matt Taibbi: A Biden appointee's troubling views on the First AmendmentMatt Taibbi: A Biden appointee's troubling views on the First Amendment Timothy Wu wonders if the First Amendment is 'obsolete,' and believes in 'returning the country to the kind of media environment that prevailed in the 1950s' Photo by Grindi / Getty Images/iStockphotoAdvertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Try refreshing your browser, orAdvertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Listening to Wu, who has not responded to requests for an interview, is confusing. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content That 1950s period is attractive to modern politicians because it was a top-down system.

A map of a hypothetical scenario where western Minnesota seceded and joined South Dakota. 2020 election results by state, including hypothetical results for a scenario in which western Minnesota seceded and joined South Dakota, forming a "New South Dakota" and leaving behind a "New Minnesota." 2020 presidential election votes by county, along alternate borders in a hypothetical scenario where western Minnesota seceded and joined South Dakota. Here's a table comparing the demographics of current (or "Old") South Dakota and Minnesota, the hypothetically seceding counties ("ex-Minnesota") and the new states of New Minnesota and New South Dakota. A table comparing the demographics of Minnesota and South Dakota, along with the demographics for a hypothetical scenario in which western Minnesota ("ex-MN") seceded and joined South Dakota (forming "New SD"), leaving a smaller "New Minnesota" behind.

Former White House coronavirus coordinator Deborah Birx told CNN that she believes that the U.S. coronavirus deaths that occurred after the first surge of cases "could have been mitigated or decreased substantially." What she's saying: "I look at it this way: There were about 100,000 deaths that came from that original surge," said Birx, who served under the Trump administration. "All of the rest of them, in my mind, could have been mitigated or decreased substantially." So far, the virus has killed more than 548,ooo Americans, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. What to watch: The interview was part of a larger CNN documentary with six doctors who were at the center of the country's response to the virus.

The US and French governments were told about a Saudi threat to kill the UN researcher investigating the Kashoggi murder. So last week, the UN organized a leak to make sure the Saudis don't make good on the threat. United Nations officials informed French and American intelligence services last year that a Saudi official appeared to threaten the life of a UN researcher investigating the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, sources told Insider. The Saudis called a meeting in January 2020 to complain about her, two European Union security officials told Insider. Both the French and Belgian officials said the UN account of the meeting was far more credible than al Awwad's denial.

Multiple defenses of the monarchy appeared in publications like the Federalist and the National Review. In a National Review article entitled “An American Defense of Britain’s Constitutional Monarchy,” the Heritage Foundation’s Joseph Loconte rails against the “the Left” and “the radical Left” for its hostility to the monarchy. So, really, if you think about it hard enough, a successful revolution to throw off the rule of Britain’s monarchy redounded to the credit of . Britain’s monarchy. More serious defenses of the monarchy often revolve around the idea that the institution has provided “stability and continuity” while allowing democratic institutions to evolve.

The Biden administration is struggling to accommodate an increasing number of unaccompanied children arriving on the border. The increase in arrivals among unaccompanied children is happening even though, for the most part, the border remains closed. But in 2014, the US started seeing many more families and unaccompanied children making the journey — a trend that has continued. The majority of unaccompanied children arriving on the border also have family in the US, so they’re aiming to reunite with their relatives. The Biden administration opted to continue doing so, acknowledging its humanitarian obligations.

This fight over the federal government’s power to address a slow-moving catastrophe is just one battle in a multi-front war over federal agencies’ power to regulate. At least since the Franklin Roosevelt administration, federal agencies have had wide latitude to implement the policies the president campaigned on. The answer is that the courts — and, ultimately, the Supreme Court — will decide for themselves what this vague language means. But in the Supreme Court of the United States, history and constitutional text matter little if a party has five votes. This essay is adapted from the author’s book, The Agenda: How a Republican Supreme Court Is Reshaping America.

So you might have missed a news item from Kazakhstan: the elimination of the last weapons-grade uranium in that country. In a program jointly operated with the United States, Kazakh scientists ground 2.9 kilograms of highly enriched uranium into a fine powder. They then mixed that powder with enough low-enriched uranium powder to render the whole batch useless for bomb-making. If material was lost, it was just left off the books, no one wanted to get in trouble for it. And factories would often deliberately keep some nuclear materials off the books, to make up for unforeseen shortfalls.

But so far, much of his focus has been on easing access for Mexican and Central American immigrants, leaving people like Laure stranded in Mexico. There, people like her typically face police violence, racism from locals, and a language barrier while they wait for their asylum cases to be processed. Isaac Guzman / Getty Images African immigrants protest outside a detention center demanding that Mexican authorities speed up humanitarian visas that would enable them to cross Mexico on their way to the US in 2019. She says she was repeatedly told by employers and local residents that the only way a Black woman could make money in Mexico was sex work. Metering, for example, is an informal system both H and Laure encountered as African immigrants in which names are written down in tattered notebooks held together with duct tape.

Key West will do just fine without the megaships, said treasurer Arlo Haskell, a writer and poet. That left only Key West, Panama City, Pensacola and Saint Petersburg subject to the proposed prohibitions. ADADLawmakers may not be done trying to punish Key West for its November vote. In a recent tweet, Roach urged his colleagues to oppose giving federal stimulus funds to ports that ban cruise ships. ADADIt’s been more than a year since cruise ships have docked in Key West.

Seth Harris, now a top labor adviser to Biden, wrote a script for a Biden video promoting the union effort. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) wrote an op-ed voicing carefully calibrated support for the Amazon union drive. ADIn his first two months, Biden has aggressively sought to cement support from unions and workers. While Biden has positioned himself staunchly alongside the Amazon workers, he also has some associations with the company through his vast political network. Jay Carney, Biden’s communications director when he was vice president, is now a senior vice president at Amazon.

The Biden administration is working to reassert the government's top consumer watchdog, which was sidelined by President Donald Trump, just as the U.S. economy is showing signs of revving up. "There is going to be a cop on the beat again," said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who helped create the agency. In 2018, the Trump administration stripped the agency of its powers to enforce discrimination cases in lending, a move that enraged many Democrats and consumer finance advocates. Still, the money recovered by actions under both agency chiefs during the Trump administration paled in comparison to the total recovered during the Obama years. CFPB Director nominee Rohit Chopra.

But, so far, Biden has continued to display strong support for Taiwan, at times even going further than the Trump administration did. On the other side of the table is a Biden administration that has already staked out China as America's most important challenge. Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump attend a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in 2017. Many Taiwanese favored Trump because of his administration's hard-line stance against China and support for Taiwan. The Biden administration has so far signalled strong support for democratic Taiwan, which has been ruled separately from China since 1949.

In addition to their nationwide efforts to limit access to the ballot, Republican lawmakers in some states are moving to gain greater control over the local mechanics of elections, from voter registration all the way to certifying results. Brian Kemp signed a bill Thursday to give the GOP-dominated Legislature greater influence over a state board that regulates elections and empowers it to remove local election officials deemed to be underperforming. A South Carolina proposal would give lawmakers new oversight of the members appointed to the currently independent State Election Commission. The board could then remove local election officials and replace them. “It’s really a shame because our local election officials, in many ways, were heroes last year, and to see them attacked by their state lawmakers is really unfortunate,” she said.

EXCLUSIVE - Republican Study Committee (RSC) chief Rep. Jim Banks is leading a group of Republicans demanding answers from Amazon after the removal of conservative scholar Ryan T. Anderson's book on transgenderism titled "When Harry Became Sally." "His book offers the clearest, most thoroughly researched conservative perspective on the issue of transgenderism that I’m aware of. "Amazon.com currently controls a majority of the print book market in the United States, and a supermajority of e-book sales. Anderson told Fox News that the timing of the removal of his book seems "awfully suspicious." Across the nation, freedom of speech is being denied, and the thought police are on the rise," Wenstrup told Fox News in a statement.

Included in Weiser's "three witches" comment was Michigan Democratic Gov. Weiser's rhetoric toward Democrats and Republicans opposing the former president comes at a time when elected officials villainized by Trump and other GOP leaders have faced armed protests, harassment and death threats. The Michigan GOP did not respond to a request for comment Friday evening, nor did representatives for Upton and Meijer. Democratic colleagues of Weiser's on the University of Michigan Board of Regents also criticized his remarks. AdvertisementThis week's comments are on the heels of another Michigan GOP leader caught on camera making remarks to members of the party that sparked blowback and calls for resignation.

Wisconsin's Milwaukee County this week approved a measure that reduces the fine for carrying small amounts of marijuana to $1. County board officials agreed to reduce the fine that was previously $275, but violators will still have to pay court fees that total $141, according to a local CBS News station. "[With] our existing ordinances, many people cannot afford the fines and fees associated with marijuana possession." The county's decision will have little effect on the larger city of Milwaukee and in surrounding suburbs, including West Allis and Wauwatosa, where marijuana possession fines can reach up to $500. County residents who are caught with larger amounts of marijuana will still face more severe penalties, the news outlet reported.

“Everything is in peril if you don’t have that power to determine who represents you and hold them accountable,” Benson said. “And for those now in leadership to try to take that power away, it’s reprehensible.”ADVERTISEMENTThe interview followed Georgia Gov. The law also gives state lawmakers sweeping powers over how elections are run. Michigan senators introduced similar legislation on Wednesday putting limits on absentee voting in the state, including ID requirements and preventing the secretary of state from sending out unsolicited absentee ballot applications or making them available online. Republicans argue that the bills would help restore confidence in the state’s voting system that they themselves helped undermine through months of debunked claims that the election results in Michigan were tampered with widespread fraud.

Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. When asked if he thought he could be running against Mr Trump in 2024, Mr Biden joked he wasn’t sure the GOP would even last that long – a nod to divisions in the party between traditional conservatives and Trump loyalists. If the two men were to run again in 2024, on election day Mr Biden would be about to turn 82, and Mr Trump would be 78. In the 2020 election, Mr Biden won 306 electoral college votes to Mr Trump’s 232.

The Chinese government has not been cooperative as journalists and the Trump and Biden administrations have sought more facts. Recently, an international group of scientists and researchers issued an open letter calling for an independent investigation, separate from the WHO effort, which they say has lacked the independence, expertise, and access needed to adequately investigate the source of the pandemic, including the potential for a lab accident. ‘Efforts to date do not constitute a thorough, credible, and transparent investigation,’ the letter, published by The Wall Street Journal, said.

Kim Reynolds has signed legislation cutting the state's early voting period and closing the polls an hour earlier on Election Day. "It’s our duty and responsibility to protect the integrity of every election," Reynolds said in a statement. More:Group sues over Iowa's new election law, which cuts early and Election Day votingWhat does Iowa's new election law do? In Georgia, lawmakers are considering limiting early voting on weekends and ending no-excuse absentee voting. Meanwhile, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation last week that would expand access to voting, including early voting.

Reporter Briana Whitney asked what guidance Border Patrol had given the small and isolated community about the federal agency’s plans. “This is a common tactic we used all the time even back in my day,” tweeted former Border Patrol agent Jenn Budd. “In 2019, Border Patrol was dropping people off directly at shelters in Tucson,” Marizco tweeted. “Now under rules, Border Patrol must drop off within 35 miles of where Border Patrol apprehension took place.”That change only occurred earlier this year. The Biden administration’s new agency guidance has border towns and advocates concerned about incoming immigrants’ health and welfare.

A rushed US exit from Afghanistan without finalized peace terms between Taliban insurgents and the Kabul government could end bitterly, American intelligence agencies have warned. However, talks are still dragging on between envoys of the Sunni Muslim insurgents and the Kabul government of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Taliban made peace promisesLast year, the Taliban vowed that if all US and international forces were withdrawn by May it would enter into such intra-Afghan peace talks and cut ties with al-Qaida. In recent months Taliban attacks on foreign troops in Afghanistan have largely ceased, although assaults on Afghan security forces and personnel have continued. He welcomed parallel attempts, though, by regional powers to break the deadlock, with Moscow hosting Afghan factions recently and Turkey planning peace talks in April.

“Here is my proof,” said Wong, 69, who last year ran as a Republican candidate for the state Senate. A report released this month by Stop AAPI Hate found that Asian Americans reported nearly 3,800 hate incidents during the pandemic. In an interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer, he said he needed to speak out against the constant wave of anti-Asian violence. “The timing was right in light of what’s happening in this country,” Wong told the newspaper. “I’m just afraid it might come down to what’s happening in Atlanta, sooner or later, if we don’t speak up.”

Activists holding signs of "IMPEACH" protested outside of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office Saturday, demanded his ouster and compared the embattled Democrat to former President Donald Trump. "Governor Cuomo is Trump in sheep's clothing," said Rebecca Bailin, an activist who led the "Cuomo Must Go" demonstration. "Cuomo has shown that he will not stop abusing power, and therefore, we must remove his access to it," Cabán added. Both the New York State Attorney General’s office and the New York State Assembly have active investigations into the allegations against Cuomo.

Some of Collins’ six other Republican Senate colleagues who voted to convict Trump, who was charged with inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection, have faced rebukes from their state parties. 3 House Republican Rep. Liz Cheney for voting to impeach Trump. Among other Senate Republicans who voted to convict Trump, Sens. and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) were rebuked by their state parties but narrowly averted censure, while the Utah GOP defended Utah Sen. Mitt Romney’s vote. Collins has defended her decision, saying Trump failed to uphold his oath of office.

A child holds onto a woman's arm after being released on March 17 from U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody in Brownsville, Texas. (Associated Press)Vice President Kamala Harris has been asked by President Biden to oversee the administration’s response to the growing migrant crisis at the border. It's a very different story with Vela's 300-mile-long district in southern Texas. Despite making up 41% of the state’s population, white Texans make up 61% of lawmakers in the state House and Senate, according to the Texas Tribune. Besides Vela, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez won reelection by just 3 points in his south Texas district in 2020 while Biden squeaked by with 2 points.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesBiden said he expects to run for reelection in 2024 with Vice President Kamala Harris. President Joe Biden on Thursday announced that he expects to run for reelection in 2024 with Vice President Kamala Harris on the ticket. "The answer is yes, my plan is to run for reelection," Biden told reporters in his first formal news conference of his administration. Biden added that he "fully expects" Harris to be his running mate again and praised her for "doing a great job" as vice president. The comments came as the White House press corps grilled Biden during his first formal news conference of his presidency.

While Mr Biden is scrambling to put extra resources where they are needed, he has been attacked for having an “open border” by people such as Mr Cruz, and other Republicans. “All of us today witnessed the Biden cages,” Mr Cruz told reporters after disembarking from one of the patrol vessels, all of them equipped with machine guns. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Mr Cruz said he did not accept the premise of the question, but added: “We are a nation of immigrants – that is absolutely right.

Why Mr Trump thought that the answer would be anything other than "yes" is unknown. Will there ever be a Durham report?” Mr Trump said Friday night in an update from his 45 Office email account. Even though Mr Trump has been exiled from social media, his critics are not, and used their platform to criticise the strange statement. Many interpreted the statement not as Mr Trump expressing frustration, but of teasing out his next move. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief Alejandro Mayorkas has been slammed for firing 32 members of the agency's advisory council, including several Donald Trump allies, in the middle of the border crisis. 'In the service of an orderly transition to a new model for the HSAC, I have ended the term of current HSAC members effective March 26, 2021,' he wrote. The HSAC website was already updated Friday to display just the three remaining council members and their bios. Also gone are at least seven new members appointed in Trump's final months in office. Trump's Acting DHS Secretary Wolf added Carafano, Fuller, Miller, Nocco, Renaud, Weatherford, and White to the council last May.

We have seen cases and hospital admissions move from historic declines to stagnations to increases," Walensky said during the White House Covid-19 task force briefing Friday. "If I was to guess, this virus started transmitting somewhere in September, October in Wuhan," Redfield told Gupta in a clip from the documentary. On Friday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration was reserving judgment on that question until the World Health Organization releases its final report on the origins of Covid-19. Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, seemed to downplay the possibility that Redfield's explanation is correct during the White House Covid-19 briefing on Friday. Jeff Zients, the White House Covid-19 response coordinator, said maintaining the current pace of 2.5 million vaccinations per day for the next five weeks will be the equivalent of vaccinating a sellout crowd at Yankee Stadium 50 times a day.

WASHINGTON -- Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas fired most of the members of the Homeland Security Advisory Council on Friday, according to a letter obtained by ABC News.The Homeland Security Advisory Council is made up of 30 members -- both Democrats and Republicans. "In the service of an orderly transition to a new model for the HSAC, I have ended the term of current HSAC members effective March 26, 2021," he wrote. Bratton, the former NYPD commissioner, serves as commissioner.Ranking member on the House Homeland Security Committee John Katko, R-N.Y., slammed the action. "The HSAC is not intended to be an echo chamber for what the current DHS Secretary wants to hear. "Trump's former acting DHS secretary, Chad Wolf, who appointed some of the members, tweeted that it was a mistake as well.

The claim: Obama and George Soros created antifaDoes anti-fascist movement antifa have ties to the federal government? The Feb. 4 post is a screenshot of an apparent article or blog entry titled "ANTIFA Leads Directly To Barack Obama." "ANTIFA is the creation of Barack Obama and George Soros," the claim states. Despite Barr's initiative, there is no evidence suggesting the Justice Department discovered an illicit connection between former President Barack Obama and philanthropist George Soros. A Facebook post suggesting anti-fascist group antifa was created by former President Barack Obama and Democratic donor George Soros is derived from a work of satire.

Swing States: Great LakesThe manufacturing center (in popular imagination anyway) of america, producing high horsepower cars and even higher horsepower blenders*. For future presidential elections, it’s probably off swing state duty unless the election goes really well for dems. Pennsylvania 2 party marginThe state’s voting patterns are like its fellow trio of doom states, but less extreme. The Future Will Be Different Tomorrow; Future Swing StatesWhat states will go swingy in the future, maybe a decade or so away? No, I’m not high on coffee, these are no question highly republican states and will be in the near future.

Abstract (emphasis added):This study investigated biased message processing of political satire in The Colbert Report and the influence of political ideology on perceptions of Stephen Colbert. Results indicate that political ideology influences biased processing of ambiguous political messages and source in late-night comedy. Using data from an experiment (N = 332), we found that individual-level political ideology significantly predicted perceptions of Colbert's political ideology. Finally, a post hoc analysis revealed that perceptions of Colbert's political opinions fully mediated the relationship between political ideology and individual-level opinion. Satire as a Device for Engaging Audiences in Public Debate” prompted me to ask myself whether Trump cultist types even “get” satire.

Did Cruz voters see this and change their minds about him? The McCain campaign wouldn't let Palin get near a reporter's microphone for weeks after she was selected. Early speculation that this might be an “October Surprise” that would lead to Trump’s withdrawal from the campaign was dashed quickly as a two-prong defense—deflection and rationalization—was employed by the Trump campaign. Gaffes matter to those voters, but only the ones they think should matter. Gaffes, of course, have tremendous power to shape both popular culture and our memories, lingering long after a campaign is over.

*You see, folks, on Thursday, March 25, 2021, thanks to the fine Republicans in Georgia’s legislature and to that model governor, Brian Kemp, the lights went out in Georgia. To help you understand why the lights went out, let me quote from the brilliant commentator, Heather Cox Richardson:There is only one story today. I ask you…is this the Georgia, the fourth state of the original 13 to ratify the Constitution? Take a look at the lowlights of this new Georgia law (for which the passing and signing process was “faster than a speeding bullet.”). Heather Cox Richardson wrote, there are “…more than 250 measures in 43 states designed to keep Republicans in power no matter what voters want.”Yes, the lights went out in Georgia.

1926 KKK demonstration in WashingtonWill the Republicans play out their hand, or are they bluffing? In case you haven’t noticed, the Republicans have gone all in, Texas hold’em style. The North looked the other way and market capitalism was content for 100 years to leave things largely undisturbed. The Republican Party has gone full circleRepublican Sabotage is DeliberateOnce the Anti-slavery Party, the Republican Party has gone full circle, starting in the 50s when they not so slowly became primarily the party of white supremacy. If the Republicans prevail, a period of Civil War is possible and a destabilization of profits.

The filibuster and the fate of the nationOrdinarily, the question of “How will this particular Senator vote on this particular issue?” is of limited significance. But, conceivably, in the case of how West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin will deal with the issue of filibuster reform, much of America’s future may hang on the answer. Hence the question: will Manchin use his virtual veto power to substantially cripple the Biden presidency? And how Manchin decides will tell us a great deal about what kind of man he is. On the other hand, Manchin has an opportunity to have a big positive impact – at a most crucial moment -- on America’s path forward.

It’s not surprising that, due to my reading choices, I would choose role-playing video games that allowed me to step into those fantasy worlds. Yet, as video games continue to grow, both in popularity and scope, racism and harassment remain endemic to the experience. There's plenty about Wreck List of Garrosh (US-H) that's a little different from your run-of-the-mill World of Warcraft guild. With a median member age of about 40, Wreck List boasts well over 200 members, half of them women. Wreck List Guild.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus was sequenced in January 2020, Analysis immediately showed that virus is, as the name implies, very similar to the SARS-CoV virus that causes the disease SARS. Redfield’s entire basis for claiming that COVID-19 didn’t come straight from bats is that it’s too infectious. Once in charge of Operation Warp Speed, Slaoui took an approach that seemed to guarantee a vaccine shortage. “I won’t leave those shares,” said Slaoui before giving his old company $2.1 billion, “because that’s my retirement.”Retirement sounds like a good idea … for both Slaoui and Redfield. When CNN is looking for scientists who can shine some light on the COVID-19 vaccine, these two are among the last they should question.

Coca-Cola has donated over $30,000 to politicians co-sponsoring voter suppression bills while referring to themselves as allies to the movement. We expect the businesses that we support to SUPPORT us and fight against racist policies that undermine voting rights. Some companies, like SalesForce, have taken a firm stance standing up against Black voter suppression, yet Coke wouldn't even comment. Georgia is turning back the clock on voting rights because Abrams’ Fair Fight Action was so wildly successful in 2020. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore parts of the Voting Rights Act—including requiring states that consistently engage in voting suppression tactics to pre-clear voting laws with the federal government.

When it came to GOP efforts to take a wrecking ball to voting rights across the country, Biden lambasted Republicans. "The Republican voters I know find this despicable," Biden said. Voters,” he said, emphasizing the split between GOP voters and party elites. In fact, plenty of those GOP voters were drinking in Biden’s message, word for word. But no one with any allegiance to the actual Republican Party has the juice right now to lead an opposition movement to the Democrats, much less Joe Biden.

While trends may be nothing but illusory, the number of active cases at any given time certainly sets the stage for what happens next. So a large number of new cases does not guarantee an increase the following day, but it provides that possibility. The Sunshine State has also seen a return to triple-digit daily deaths after an encouraging trend earlier this month. Original calculations based around the best estimates of COVID-19’s transmissibility set a baseline of about 65% of the population before a significant herd immunity effect would set in. Which makes it impossible to ever reach the level of vaccination needed for herd immunity, even without factoring in children or people who can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons.

A new study finds that false information on the social media network travels six times faster than the truth and reaches far more people. They found that “fake news” sped through Twitter “farther, faster, deeper and more broadly than the truth in all categories of information,” according to the study in Thursday’s journal Science . Social media companies have experimented with using computer algorithms and human fact-checkers to try to weed out false information and abuse online. She also suggested that calling this bogus information “false stories” does not capture how malignant it is. The researchers dug deeper to find out what kind of false information travels faster and farther.

There is one tool, however, that Biden and the Democratic Congress could use to undo the policies the Trump administration left behind. With a few exceptions, it applies to only those Trump administration policies finalized between Aug. 21, 2020, and Jan. 20, 2021. KHN is tracking health regulations, guidance and executive orders implemented during Trump’s term and whether those policies will continue under the Biden administration. That raises another hurdle the White House has encountered as it tries to change health policy. Keith said one possible use would be on a last-minute Trump regulation known as the sunset rule.

Intolerance on TelevisionCoverage of the Equality Act by major news organizations has been sparse and lacking in context. We examined television coverage of the Equality Act, from March 3, 2019, through March 4, 2021, using the Television News Archive. We found that MSNBC covered the Equality Act 40 percent more often than Fox News and 35 percent more frequently than CNN. Our analysis of the most popular articles about the Equality Act on social media exposes a thinly veiled version of this logic. But even calling out Greene’s misunderstanding of “the science” will not necessarily recenter attention on the Equality Act itself.

There is one tool, however, that Biden and the Democratic Congress could use to undo the policies the Trump administration left behind. With a few exceptions, it applies to only those Trump administration policies finalized between Aug. 21, 2020, and Jan. 20, 2021. KHN is tracking health regulations, guidance and executive orders implemented during Trump’s term and whether those policies will continue under the Biden administration. But those changes are embedded within a much larger regulation required each year to keep the health law operating. Keith said one possible use would be on a last-minute Trump regulation known as the sunset rule.

Where there were no actual, serious crises to exploit, the Trump-hating left manufactured them. Instead of rhetorically creating crises where there are none, the left today is in fact creating real crises while pretending it hasn’t. The dismantling of Trump’s border control measures has caused an uptick in immigration to the southern border where tent cities have been set up. It is not a fiction.” Those affected by Antifa violence and destruction in Seattle, Portland and elsewhere know this to be true. Or see the Biden administration refusing to admit that there is a crisis on the southern border, one that Biden’s de facto open-border policies and rhetoric directly caused.

The Supreme Court clerks’ annual comedy revue, presented every June at the justices’ highly private end-of-term party, was one of the crusty old traditions that Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor chose to disrupt. “Marty would have wanted you to,” Sotomayor assured the new widow as she hauled Ginsburg to her feet. In her first year on the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor shocked her fellow justices by doing a salsa dance. Sotomayor filed a formal discrimination complaint against the university with the federal government, then took her campaign to the press. The bold ways of Boomers like Steve Jobs, Aaron Sorkin and Camille Paglia have given rise to the identity politics of today, Andrews writes.

North Korea issued a sharp rebuke to President Biden who said the country’s recent test of a new short-range ballistic missile violated United Nations Security Council resolutions. Biden has said he remains open to diplomacy with the North over denuclearization. North Korea test-fired a newly developed tactical ballistic missile on March 25, 2021. EPAThe new US administration promises to be a chillier reception for the mercurial dictator than his four years with former President Trump. Kim and Trump famously met twice for bilateral summits in Singapore and Hanoi and Trump frequently showered Kim with praise.

Trump himself has encouraged supporters to donate to Save America, a leadership PAC he launched at the end of 2020. ADIn a statement, Jason Miller, a senior Trump adviser, said Trump plans to use his influence to help the party. During his time in the White House, Trump was the most prominent fundraising figure for the Republican Party, which enjoyed a financial bonanza. They are doing it because the biggest force for the Republican Party for fundraising is President Trump. Days later, the national party sent out a fundraising pitch to members after they received tacit approval to do so from Trump.

GREG ABBOTT (R), TEXAS: The Biden administration must also answer for enticing unaccompanied minors into inhumane conditions. WALLACE: We'll talk with a man in charge of securing the border, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. Plus --JOSEPH R. BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Hate can have no safe harbor in America. COTTON: Yeah, Chris, the Biden administration keeps saying that Trump somehow dismantled the immigration system. It was the Biden administration that dismantled three highly effective policies.

Ted Cruz was among 18 Republicans who patrolled the Rio Grande (Getty Images)Ted Cruz and his colleagues had a message for Joe Biden and they kept repeating it. Previously they had been forced to wait in Mexico - something rights activists said was perilous - under rules introduced by Donald Trump. “We just went past a dead body in the Rio Grande,” he said. Did Cruz really need to livestream his visit to the river bank the night before at midnight, whispering as though he was a naturalist. Yet Cruz admitted himself, he wants those children, from places such as Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, sent to Mexico to be processed.

Former House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) is the latest prominent Republican to step into the ring against former President Donald Trump, Politico reports. An invitation obtained by Politico revealed Boehner will be a special guest at a virtual Monday fundraiser for Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio). Gonzalez was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump this year and, perhaps unsurprisingly, Trump is now backing a primary challenge against the congressman. Boehner, it seems, will look to stick up for the non-Trump wing of the Republican Party, following the lead of his old colleague and successor, former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc. All told, the involvement of Boehner and Ryan reflects the growing intra-party battle between the old guard and the new.

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea test-launched what it called a newly developed tactical guided missile ?Thursday, violating international sanctions. North Korea’s ballistic missiles can carry nuclear warheads, and the country conducted six increasingly sophisticated underground nuclear tests between 2006 and 2017. During a nighttime military parade last October, North Korea displayed a new, untested ICBM that looked bigger than any of the previous ones. North Korea has yet to demonstrate that its warhead can survive the intense heat and friction created by reentry. At a military parade earlier this year, North Korea displayed what looked like a bigger, upgraded version of KN-23.

The biggest expansion of the federal government in a generation is underway, a pandemic-inspired shift in resources and responsibilities that will challenge President Biden and the Democrats to demonstrate that they can make government work. © Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post President Biden speaks Thursday during a news conference at the White House. Former president Barack Obama took some steps in that direction with the Affordable Care Act, a more modest stimulus package and financial reform. The $15 minimum wage got knocked out of the stimulus package by the Senate parliamentarian for not fitting into the rules of reconciliation. The pandemic may have helped to flip the script for Democrats, if in fact resistance to bigger government has declined.

Tucker Carlson has lashed out at The Pentagon claiming it has been overtaken by 'woke' military officials who are more concerned with identity politics than they are with protecting the safety of the American people. 'If you're wondering whether our military leadership has gone woke, consider that question settled for good. The Pentagon is now the Yale faculty lounge, but with cruise missiles,' Carlson tartly stated. Carlson claims 'woke' officials have taken control of The Pentagon, compromising the safety of AmericansFriday's segment wasn't the first time that Tucker Carlson has hit out at the 'woke' Pentagon. It's a mockery of the U.S. military,' Carlson said.

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden’s administration has less than a week to decide on extending the nationwide eviction moratorium, a measure that housing advocates say has helped keep most cash-strapped tenants across the country in their homes during the pandemic. “The question is: What is the extension going to look like?”Dunn and others would like to see the moratorium extended and improved. Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package included more than $25 billion in emergency rental assistance, plus more to help tenants who were behind on their utilities, but no extension of the eviction moratorium. One of the biggest changes being advocated is for Biden to make the ban’s protection’s automatic and universal. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...“Individual eviction cases are still heard by state court judges far and wide — many of who never liked the CDC halt order to begin with and were just itching for ways to circumvent it or disregard it,” Dunn said.

"Given the dramatic increase in death threats against Michigan elected officials during the Trump administration, this type of rhetoric is destructive and downright dangerous. "We're focused on the three witches," Weiser said, in response to one of the questions. Do better, Michigan GOP," Nessel said, including a graphic with Whitmer, Benson and herself wearing witches hats. Ted Goodman, communications director for the Michigan Republican Party, did not directly answer questions about the words used by Weiser during the event. Weiser was recently elected the leader of the Michigan Republican Party, after having served in the role before.

Mayorkas denied that Biden's changes have encouraged the current migrant surge. The secretary also defended Biden's elimination of Trump's "safe third country" agreements which required migrants to seek asylum in another country first if they were passing through a safe country on their way to the U.S. He claimed that "there's nothing safe about" sending people back "to the very countries from which they are fleeing persecution." He then claimed that the administration is "working on providing footage so that the American public can see the border patrol stations." "We're working on providing access," Mayorkas replied, again noting the problem of the coronavirus pandemic.

I was shocked when he said this to Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday:" "The border is secure. The border is not closed and it is not secure. Thousands of family units are streaming across also. The CBP base this number on sensor traffic, camera traffic and foot signs that they could not respond to because they were tied up with hundreds of family units and children. However, ICE cannot remove those cases and execute those lawful federal orders because the Biden administration has taken non-criminal fugitives off their list of priorities.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has fired almost all members of the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) -- the latest sign by the agency of its intention to move away from the practices of the prior administration. MAYORKAS BLAMES MIGRANT SURGE ON TRUMP ADMIN, NOT BIDEN POLICIESHSAC was set up for members, who are unpaid, to use their experience and expertise of Homeland Security issues like counterterrorism and immigration enforcement to offer guidance to the secretary. Its current membership included Trump-era officials such as former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chad Wolf, former Deputy DHS Secretary Ken Cuccinelli and former Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Thomas Homan -- but include those appointed by secretaries by both Democratic and Republican administrations. House Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member John Katko, R-N.Y., also criticized the move, saying it was a sign the administration "has no intention of upholding a bipartisan, unifying approach to securing our homeland." "It’s an absolute shame that Secretary Mayorkas has removed these well-respected homeland security leaders who have dedicated their careers to strengthening our homeland security posture," he said in a statement.

DUBAI (Reuters) - China and Iran, both subject to U.S. sanctions, signed a 25-year cooperation agreement on Saturday to strengthen their long-standing economic and political alliance. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi sign a 25-year cooperation agreement in Tehran, Iran March 27, 2021. “Our relations with Iran will not be affected by the current situation, but will be permanent and strategic,” Wang said ahead of the televised signing ceremony. China has spoken out often against U.S. sanctions on Iran and partly contested them. He also promised that China would provide more coronavirus vaccines to Iran, the Middle Eastern country worst-hit by the pandemic.

Her statements ended up costing her her job at Yale, and this week, Lee sued Yale for breaking her employment contract. Law professor Alan Dershowitz, often an apologist for Trump and Trump’s lawyer in his first impeachment trial, believed our concerns about Trump’s mental condition were overblown. All of us had the freedom to raise our concerns about Trump’s mental health without fear of retribution. Lee continued to question Trump’s mental health and point out the danger he posed for our country and the world. Even more important than Lee’s lawsuit against Yale is that we should examine the role of mental health professionals in our political system.

“Twenty years ago in Montana, meth was homemade. “Far more dangerous, far more addictive, and it’s less expensive because they’re producing so much of it and then shipping it into our country,” Mr Daines added. “We are seeing a flood of Mexican heroin, Mexican meth, and Mexican fentanyl coming into Montana,” Mr Daines said in the interview on Thursday. Following a video of Mr Daine’s comments being uploaded to social media on Friday evening, users were perplexed with the tone of the senator’s interview. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) gets a little nostalgic when talking about how Mexican meth has overtaken homemade Montana meth.

No reasonable person would conclude those allegations were true statements of fact. That’s essentially the defense offered by Sidney Powell’s lawyers to the $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit brought by Denver-based voting Dominion Voting Systems, Inc. Dominion provides voting equipment to more than 1,300 jurisdictions in 28 states including Colorado. After President Donald Trump lost the election, Powell accused Dominion of participating in a vast, international conspiracy to overturn a Trump victory and steal the election. Powell’s lawyers are using a similar strategy successfully employed by Fox News in a defamation case against the network’s talk show host Tucker Carlson. Fox News argued that no “reasonable viewer” would accept Tucker’s extortion allegations as fact because of the nature of Tucker’s show.

Rick Joyner is a famous evangelical leader who has called on Christians to arm themselves for an inevitable civil war against liberals, whom he suggests are allies of the devil. But this is the awkward part: His five children would be on the other side of that civil war, as he and his kids all acknowledge. That’s me.”She worries that his far-right rhetoric may get people killed, so she feels a responsibility to challenge him. Other kids wish they could take away an elderly parent’s car keys; the Joyner kids wish they could take away their dad’s megaphone. “And yet he’s the one I turn to in the middle of the night when I’m evacuating and I’m really scared.”The post He’s a Famous Evangelical Preacher, but His Kids Wish He’d Pipe Down appeared first on New York Times.

Asa Hutchinson on Friday signed into law legislation allowing doctors to refuse to treat someone because of religious or moral objections, a move opponents have said will give providers broad powers to turn away LGBTQ patients and others. The move came just a day after he signed a law banning transgender women and girls from competing in school sports consistent with their gender identity. The state Chamber of Commerce also opposed the measure, saying it sends the wrong message about the state. Hundreds of college athletes have also urged the NCAA to refuse to hold championships in states that enact such bans. Arkansas' law covers K-12 as well as collegiate sports.

Newsom has vowed to fight the 'partisan, Republican' recall, which he said is backed by 'anti-mask and anti-vax extremists', and has started fundraising to defend his seat. 'I won't be distracted by this partisan, Republican recall - but I will fight it. The last update on the verification up to March 11, around 1.19 million signatures were verified out of a possible 1.45 million examined. Then California voters will vote whether or not to recall Newsom and who they want to replace him with. This marks the sixth official attempt to recall Newsom since he took office just two years ago in 2019.

At least one million Uyghurs and people from other mostly Muslim groups have been held in camps in northwestern Xinjiang, according to rights groups, who accuse authorities of forcibly sterilizing women and imposing forced labour. China's foreign ministry on Saturday accused the US and Canada of imposing sanctions "based on rumours and disinformation." "Otherwise, they will get their fingers burnt," the foreign ministry statement warned. Beijing, which insists Xinjiang is an "internal affair", had announced sanctions Friday against nine British individuals and four entities, saying they had "maliciously spread lies and disinformation" over the treatment of Uyghurs. China previously sanctioned dozens of US officials including former secretary of state Mike Pompeo for "crazy moves" against Beijing under the Trump administration.

Republicans and some economists have begun to warn of overheating growth spurring runaway inflation, which could reduce the salience of warnings that tax increases would cause growth to stall. The most conservative Democrats in the Senate, who hold great sway over Mr. Biden’s legislative agenda, say they favor trillions of dollars in infrastructure spending so long as there is a plan to pay for it. How are they going to fix America?” he said, when asked about Republican resistance to tax increases. “I don’t think that’s reasonable.”Democrats widely share a desire to raise the corporate income tax rate after it was cut to 21 percent in 2017. And they want to raise the top marginal rate for individuals back to 39.6 percent from 37 percent.

And this is particularly true for the Asian American community,” said John C. Yang, president of the civil rights group Asian Americans Advancing Justice. “So, on one hand, our geopolitical tensions with the Chinese government are real, and they should be,” he added. ADVERTISEMENTAnd in the early 1980s, during the rise of Japanese carmakers, two white autoworkers in Detroit bludgeoned to death a Chinese American named Vincent Chin days before his wedding. He also condemned violence against the AAPI community in a meeting with community leaders in Atlanta after the shooting. ADVERTISEMENT“Too many Asian Americans have been walking up and down the streets and worrying … They’ve been attacked, blamed, scapegoated and harassed.

The Secret Service reportedly approached the store where the gun was purchased, seeking to obtain all records of the transaction. The incident reportedly happened in late October 2018, when Joe Biden was out of office and not receiving formal Secret Service protection. Hallie Biden and Hunter Biden were then in a romantic relationship, Politico reported. Citing a Delaware police report, Politico said Hunter Biden told officers he used the gun for target practice. The Guardian was told Hunter Biden will not be sitting for interviews with print titles.

DUBAI (Reuters) - Foreign ministers from China and Iran, which are both subject to U.S. sanctions, signed a landmark 25-year cooperation agreement on Saturday. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi sign a 25-year cooperation agreement in Tehran, Iran March 27, 2021. Rouhani voiced appreciation for Beijing’s support within Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and called for more coronavirus vaccine exports to Iran, the worst-hit country by the pandemic in the Middle East. “Under the new administration, the Americans want to reconsider their policy and return to the nuclear accord, and China welcomes their move,” Wang said. Its commerce ministry said on Thursday that Beijing will try to safeguard the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and defend the legitimate interests of Sino-Iranian relations.

Biden should do what he can to help Senate Democrats dilute the filibuster. One recent evening, Biden met with historians in the East Room for two hours. The president seemed interested in activist presidencies, ones that took on big problems, like Lincoln, F.D.R. Republicans are grasping to find something to throw at Biden. He seemed to know his own mind — a nice contrast with his predecessor, who was out of his mind.

A few weeks after the Trump administration withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned “brutal men of the regime” in Tehran for oppressing Iranian women who were demanding their rights. “As human beings with inherent dignity and inalienable rights, the women of Iran deserve the same freedoms that the men of Iran possess,” Mr. Pompeo said. But the Trump administration then dealt a tremendous blow to Iranian women by reimposing sanctions on Iran, restricting oil sales and access to the global banking system, and pushing the economy into a deep recession. Since the spring of 2018, the Iranian rial has lost 68 percent of its value. The sanctions scuppered one of the nuclear deal’s key dividends: the foreign investment and job creation that was set to accompany the opening of Iran’s markets to the world.

He claims liberals are in league with Satan and Democrats are plotting “to criminalize Christianity.”Of course, I may not be a fair narrator. Other kids wish they could take away an elderly parent’s car keys; the Joyner kids wish they could take away their dad’s megaphone. “There is a responsibility to hold those you love accountable,” said Amber Grace Joyner, 30, a musician. Soon after, she nearly died in a boating accident — and the first person she called was her dad. I told Rick Joyner that I thought his struggles with his children reflected a larger generation gap and dwindling of influence of the religious right.

ADADMake no mistake: President Donald Trump’s border policies, especially separating children from their parents, were terrible by anyone’s standards. At least Trump can validly claim that he allowed reporters to visit his border encampments on organized tours. The little we do know about the current deluge of unaccompanied children is thanks to photos released to Axios by Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Tex. ADADThe flow of these unaccompanied children seems nowhere near ending. Contrary to the narrative of their defense, sending unaccompanied children back home does not mean turning them out into the desert to starve.

The act also substantially changes health-insurance premiums and subsidies for Marketplace plans. In 2021, unsubsidized health-insurance premiums would cost $14,358 for our family of three. Unsubsidized health-insurance premiums for a 60-year-old couple (assuming children are grown and off the parents’ insurance) would cost $22,975 in 2021. With the change in the new law, the maximum anyone will pay for health-insurance premiums is 8.5% of their income. It can potentially save you tens of thousands of dollars in anticipated health-insurance premiums over the next two years.

Twenty-five percent of respondents to a new USA Today/Ipsos poll said they had witnessed someone blaming Asian people for the COVID-19 pandemic during the previous month. “ Marya Mtshali traced the origins of COVID-19-related discrimination in part back to historical racist imagery of Asian Americans related to lack of cleanliness and contagious disease. “The specific stigmatizing beliefs were that Asian Americans were COVID-19 risk and that they were responsible for the current COVID-19 situation.”Cases of COVID-19 were first detected in Wuhan, China. Stop AAPI Hate chronicled 3,795 hate incidents against Asian Americans between March 19, 2020 and Feb. 28, according to statistics published recently by the reporting center. Many of the incidents included verbal harassment (68%), deliberate avoidance of Asian Americans (21%) and physical assault (11%).

As in 2019, Mexico relies heavily on highway checkpoints transiting its narrow southern isthmus to prevent migrants heading north. René Sop Xivir of Jesuit Immigrant Services at the southern border. “The whole town lives from crossing migrants — the smugglers, the restaurants, the hotels, everything,” said a Gracias a Dios resident, who requested anonymity to avoid reprisals. Uncontrolled crossings dot Mexico’s southern border. In some, like La Mesilla, residents set up a street market on both sides of the border three days a week.

Metro Phoenix has been one of the nation’s fastest-growing areas for years, creating a boom in real estate prices and business opportunities in countless sectors. Already, Arizona has to reconcile its reputation as the state that tried to make it illegal to drive while Latino. Especially in a metro area where a plan to create a Phoenix civilian review board with independent powers to investigate claims of police brutality was rejected. Especially in a metro area where a 74-year-old Asian man was attacked by a stranger and skeptics respond by debating whether it was a hate crime. Metro Phoenix has been one of the nation’s fastest-growing areas for years.

Meghan McCain has slammed the mainstream media for its fawning response to Joe Biden's first press conference, saying the new President is being treated far more lightly than his predecessor, Donald Trump. 'I was watching some shows this morning - there's no need to slobber all over Joe Biden right now. 'Peter Doocy, was not called on, Fox News wasn't called on, which I think is a huge miss for President Biden yesterday.' 'I think it is incumbent on us and the press not to be deleterious in the way that we cover President Biden.' 'I love President Biden as a person.

President Joe Biden's administration faces mounting criticism for refusing to allow outside observers into facilities where it is detaining thousands of immigrant children. The photos were released by Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat from the border city of Laredo. The photos from Donna show some of the same detention areas as in the images released by Cuellar. The following year, hundreds of families and children detained at one West Texas border station went days without adequate food, water or soap. The AP has also petitioned Psaki to open border facilities.

While the DACA program withstood a years-long Trump administration effort to end it, it is currently facing its most imminent and potent legal test yet. By placing a notice in the federal register, the Biden administration will allow the public to submit comments before the policy changes become binding. Karen Tumlin, a lawyer representing DACA recipients in a separate federal court case, applauded Friday's announcement, saying it showed the Biden administration is committed to safeguarding the program. "That's putting your arms around and hugging the DACA program because you believe it is here to stay." Rodríguez, the former USCIS director, said the lingering Texas federal court case should serve as a reminder that Dreamers will never have certainty about their immigration status unless Congress votes to legalize them.

MSNBC far-left host Joy Reid once again spread misinformation on her Twitter account Monday, sharing a 2019 picture of a crowded Miami Beach in an attempt to shame vacationers for flouting coronavirus distancing guidelines. It wasn't the first time, however, that Reid has spread conspiracy theories or other misinformation to her viewers and millions of Twitter followers. MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace, one of the network's most enthusiastic proponents of Russia election conspiracy theories, asked if Johnson and Russia were "in cahoots" last year because both were trying to damage Joe Biden. GLENN GREENWALD RIPS MSNBC'S JOY REID OVER 'BATS--T CRAZY' CLAIM ABOUT SEN. RON JOHNSON"I wasn’t really doing anything to him and everyone thought I was and that makes me really sad. MSNBC'S JOY REID SAYS TIM SCOTT ONLY PRESENT AT GOP PRESS CONFERENCE FOR 'DIVERSITY'"MSNBC should know that one of its hosts is making things up.

Housing advocates are confident the ban, due to expire March 31, will be extended for several months and possibly even strengthened. Still, they argue the existing moratorium hasn’t been a blanket protection and say thousands of families have been evicted for other reasons beyond nonpayment of rent. “The question is: What is the extension going to look like?”Dunn and others would like to see the moratorium extended and improved. Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package included more than $25 billion in emergency rental assistance, plus more to help tenants who were behind on their utilities, but no extension of the eviction moratorium. One of the biggest changes being advocated is for Biden to make the ban's protection's automatic and universal.

All 23 Democratic governors have signed a letter denouncing hate against Asian-Americans, but were joined by only two Republicans. On Friday, a letter condemning violence against Asian-Americans was signed by 23 Democratic governors and the governor of Guam, following an increase in hate crimes against the community over the last 12 months. The letter was signed on Stop AAPI Hate’s virtual day of action, which was held to highlight prejudice and violence towards Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent.

After a districtwide recount showed her winning by six votes, Congress provisionally seated Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks pending a challenge from Democrat Rita Hart. The District – Iowa's 2nd Congressional District in 2020 was an open seat vacated by retired U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack. The Election – On election night, the Associated Press said the race was too close to call. Following reports of data entry errors that misallocated more than 300 extra votes to Miller-Meeks, Hart called for a full recount of the district's 24 counties. Read what lawyers for Miller-Meeks, Hart want the U.S. House to knowWhy didn't Rita Hart go to the state court?

ADADWeiser’s rhetoric toward Democrats and Republicans opposing the former president comes at a time when elected officials villainized by Trump and other GOP leaders have faced armed protests, harassment and death threats. ADLater, a woman in the audience asked Weiser how people could remove politicians like Reps. Fred Upton and Peter Meijer. The Michigan congressmen were two of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump and drew the ire of the former president’s supporters. The Michigan GOP did not respond to a request for comment Friday evening, nor did representatives for Upton and Meijer. Whitmer spokesman Robert Leddy called Weiser’s choice of words “destructive and downright dangerous” given a “dramatic increase in death threats against Michigan elected officials” during Trump’s tenure.

Jack Dorsey: Founder and CEODespite being CEO, Dorsey often comes off as checked out from Twitter. People at Twitter say Dorsey is anything but checked out. Dorsey helped invent Twitter in 2006 while working as one of the few employees at Obvious Corporation, the company that preceded it. Dorsey was Twitter's original CEO but was forced out in 2008, then returned to Twitter's helm as interim CEO in June 2015. Prior to Twitter, Segal was senior vice president of finance for Intuit's small business group and he was CFO at RPX, a patent risk management services company.

POLITICO Playbook: Boehner backs House incumbent targeted by Trump Presented by FacebookDRIVING THE DAYFormer House Speaker John Boehner is slated to be the special guest at a Monday afternoon Zoom fundraiser for Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio). Gonzalez was one of 10 House Republicans to vote for former President DONALD TRUMP’S impeachment, and he’s now facing the repercussions: a primary challenge from the right by MAX MILLER, a former Trump White House side. Congressional Progressive Caucus leader PRAMILA JAYAPAL (D-Wash.) has also been privately pushing the White House to address health care in the next reconciliation package. PLAYBOOKERSSTAFFING UP — The White House announced it plans to nominate Daniel Kritenbrink, Brian Nichols and Brett Holmgren as assistant secretaries of State. ABC “This Week”: White House comms director Kate Bedingfield … Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska).

ADVERTISEMENTThat’s likely to be the case for Vice President Kamala Harris, who this week was named the new point person on immigration. This is definitely not a ceremonial task,” said Nina Rees, a former deputy assistant for domestic policy to Vice President Dick Cheney. Harris’ team has clarified that the vice president does not own all of immigration policy. The matter of who gets praise, or blame, is even trickier when it’s clear the vice president has White House aspirations. That’s an especially strong dynamic in the Biden White House.

And that is the threshold.” NOW (March, 2021): tells Mother Jones that she “would get rid of the filibuster” for Democrat election-bill H.R. If that’s possible, then maybe we can govern with the filibuster.” Senator Bob Casey (D., Pa.) THEN (June, 2016): joins Democrats to filibuster the GOP majority into voting on gun control. NOW (March, 2021): says the filibuster is explicitly racist in origin, earning “Three Pinocchios” from the Washington Post fact-checker. — Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) February 26, 2021 Senator Debbie Stabenow (D., Mich.) THEN (April, 2019): tells Politico that filibuster reform is “the one thing that people will not do. “Senator McConnell taught me that I was wrong.

Welcome back to This Week in Apps, the weekly TechCrunch series that recaps the latest in mobile OS news, mobile applications and the overall app economy. This week we're looking at the case of the missing Arizona app store bill, the latest on the Dispo drama and Facebook's new audio efforts, among other things. Axios reported that Trump was in talks with no-name app vendors about creating his own social networking app. Scam apps have stolen more than $400 million from users across the App Store and Google, according to a study by Avast. The app now has over 50 million users, including over 50,000 elected officials, government authorities and citizen journalists.

Joe Biden waited longer than any modern president to hold his first solo press conference, turning what should have been a relatively routine event into a high-profile media spectacle. With expectations raised, Biden took to the East Room of the White House and addressed a socially distanced group of reporters. Biden didn't have much new information to share, an indication that he would prefer the headlines from the press conference to be about other topics. Biden's task, whether he wants to talk about it or not, is to prove that there is a better way. On China, the president tried to talk down the growing war of words between the two nations.

The Biden administration is keen on rebuilding America’s infrastructure, including a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project that the Trump administration blocked. And according to Joe Kane, an associate fellow for the Brookings Institution, the Gateway Project "represents a crucial link for interstate travel and commerce, which are key federal responsibilities." “And in March 2018 when the federal budget was being negotiated, then-President Trump said he would not sign a federal budget that includes monies for the Gateway Tunnel. From then forward, the previous administration really did not serve as a partner in helping us to build the project forward. REUTERS/Mike SegarAccording to Kane, part of the challenge to the completion of the Gateway Program is that it’s “not simply about a need for investment."

Good morning, and welcome to the L.A. Times Book Club newsletter. At our March book club night, Viet Thanh Nguyen decried the escalation of anti-Asian violence during the pandemic and pointed to a legacy of racist attacks in Los Angeles and elsewhere. The Times followed up Wednesday with a live community forum to address the rising violence, featuring actor and activist George Takei, author of “They Called Us Enemy” and a 2019 book club guest. The festival will kick off April 16 with the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes’ virtual awards ceremony. “One of the delights of being fortunate enough to stay home during the pandemic has been discovering the L.A. Times Book Club,” she writes.

The deal could deepen China’s influence in the Middle East and undercut American efforts to keep Iran isolated. But it was not immediately clear how much of the agreement can be implemented while the international dispute over Iran’s nuclear program remains unresolved. China was one of five world powers that, along with the U.S., signed the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran. He has said that the region is at a crossroads and offered China’s help in resolving persistent disputes, including over Iran’s nuclear program. If the nuclear agreement collapses entirely, Chinese companies, too, could face secondary sanctions from Washington, an issue that has infuriated China in the past.

A Republican lawyer who advised Donald Trump on his campaign to overturn the 2020 election results is now playing a central role coordinating the Republican effort to tighten voting laws around the country. Joe Biden called the Georgia laws “Jim Crow in the 21st Century” and “an atrocity”. More than 250 proposed voting restrictions have been proposed this year by mostly Republican lawmakers, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. She says she’ll use that role to “coordinate” conservative voting positions, particularly in opposition to HR 1. Mitchell told the Associated Press she’s been talking regularly with Republican state lawmakers about the need for new election laws.

Ted Cruz and his colleagues had a message for Joe Biden and they kept repeating it. Previously they had been forced to wait in Mexico - something rights activists said was perilous - under rules introduced by Donald Trump. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Did Cruz really need to livestream his visit to the river bank the night before at midnight, whispering as though he was a naturalist.

“Twenty years ago in Montana, meth was homemade. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice“We are seeing a flood of Mexican heroin, Mexican meth, and Mexican fentanyl coming into Montana,” Mr Daines said in the interview on Thursday. Following a video of Mr Daine’s comments being uploaded to social media on Friday evening, users were perplexed with the tone of the senator’s interview.

USA Today has fired its 'race and inclusion' editor for a tweet incorrectly blaming Monday's deadly Boulder shooting on 'an angry white man'. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting in Colorado, which claimed ten lives, Hemal Jhaveri tweeted: 'It's always and angry white man, always'. But Jhaveri's 8,000-plus followers were quick to accuse her of racism, and USA Today management quickly axed her, she said Friday. 'I am no longer employed at USA TODAY, a company that was my work home for almost eight years,' Jhaveri wrote on Medium. However, far from exiting USA Today quietly, Jhaveri fired a broadside at the company and said colleagues had gotten away with far worse.

But the chaos of the January 6 siege has led to reinvigorated calls for granting DC statehood. DC residents themselves, though, hardly need to be reminded of their paradoxical political disadvantages. Supporters for DC Statehood cheer as drivers honk their horns during the morning commute outside the Rayburn Building in Washington, DC on February, 11, 2020. Later that year at a press conference, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a Republican, said granting DC statehood would be "unconstitutional." Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., speaks at a rally sponsored by Veterans for D.C. Statehood on Veterans Day at Freedom Plaza on Monday Nov. 11, 2019.

During Mr. Trump’s tenure, his administration installed an “America First” policy, prioritizing domestic interests over foreign policy concerns and minimizing the importance of day-to-day diplomatic work. Federal surveys showed that morale in the State Department dropped. Career officials were derided as members of a “Deep State Department.” Senior Foreign Service officers were pushed out of the agency. Steve A. Linick was removed as the inspector general of the State Department amid investigations into Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s potential misuse of government resources. “Battered and belittled, too many career officials have been tempted to go along to get along,” William J. Burns and Linda Thomas-Greenfield, both longtime Foreign Service officers who are now in the Biden administration, wrote in an essay published in September in Foreign Affairs.

In addition to their nationwide efforts to restrict voting access, Republican lawmakers in some key states are seeking greater control over the local mechanics of elections, from voter registration to certifying results. In addition to their nationwide efforts to restrict voting access, Republican lawmakers in some key states are seeking greater control over the local mechanics of elections, from voter registration to certifying results. A South Carolina proposal would give lawmakers new oversight of the members appointed to the currently independent State Election Commission. The board could then remove local election officials and replace them. “It’s really a shame because our local election officials, in many ways, were heroes last year, and to see them attacked by their state lawmakers is really unfortunate,” she said.

Some gun-control advocates sense an opportunity with what they see as a more favorable political climate and a weakened NRA. Still, a spokeswoman for the NRA, Amy Hunter, disputes that the organization is on a weaker footing. A legacy of oppositionThe NRA's setbacks of late obscure its impact within American politics and the debate over guns. "They are weakened, sure, but a lot of those folks didn't need the NRA to be vocal on guns," said Lemek. Pincus says the "self-destruction" of the NRA means a breaking of the monopoly the group had on representation of gun owners.

It's forced parents and kids to socialize, work and go to school remotely, navigating Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and any other software within reach. Now, I don't want to describe all our kids' experiences with tech as sunshine and rainbows. "As soon as he wakes up, he grabs his Kindle to play video games while also watching gaming influencers on YouTube on his laptop," she said. But maybe, like many adults, kids are going to look forward to dropping the tech and seeing their friends again. What else happened in tech• Congress is back to grilling Big Tech, and threatening more regulation.

(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)BOSTON (AP) — There’s little doubt the Oath Keepers were planning for something on Jan. 6. But prosecutors have since said it is not clear whether the group was targeting the Capitol before Jan. 6. But the Oath Keepers “did not know precisely the way in which force and violence might be needed to support this plan,” she said. In December, Kelly Meggs, who officials say was the leader of the Oath Keepers’ Florida chapter, wrote in a message that he had “organized an alliance” with the Proud Boys . Mehta said there’s no evidence he entered the Capitol on Jan. 6 or had been plotting to do so.

The deal marked the first time Iran has signed such a lengthy agreement with a major world power. In 2001, Iran and Russia signed a 10-year cooperation agreement, mainly in the nuclear field, that was lengthened to 20 years through two five-year extensions. Before the ceremony Saturday, Yi met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and special Iranian envoy in charge of the deal Ali Larijani. It comes on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Iran. Reportedly, Iran and China have done some $20 billion in trade annually in recent years.

(Bloomberg) -- China and Iran signed an overarching deal aimed at charting the course of their economic, political and trade relations over the next 25 years, Iranian state TV reported, in a challenge to the Biden administration. “The document can elevate bilateral ties to a new strategic level,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a televised interview. The deal focuses on boosting private-sector collaboration and the Islamic Republic’s role in Xi’s flagship infrastructure and investment program, the Belt and Road Initiative, he said. Iran’s closer integration with China may help shore up its economy against the impact of the U.S. penalties, while sending a clear signal to the Biden administration of Tehran’s intentions. Wang Yi, who arrived in Tehran on Friday, also met with President Hassan Rouhani to discuss the nuclear deal.

Biden (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)Joe Biden has derided the sweeping elections bill signed into law by Republicans in Georgia - introducing tough new voting restrictions that many regard as discriminatory - as “Jim Crow in the 21st Century” and “an atrocity,” saying his Justice Department will be “taking a look” at the measure. His predecessor, Donald Trump, has meanwhile claimed in an interview with Fox News that he actually prefers sending out press releases from his secluded Florida resort home of Mar-a-Lago to being on Twitter, also using the interview to attack Mr Biden’s record on the US-Mexico border, a problem the president inherited from the Trump administration. Elsewhere, Mr Biden has invited China and Russia to return to global climate crisis talks, hoping to bolster international cooperation on the issue and unite the superpowers.

As we prepare to say goodbye to our beloved FOX Business and Fox News colleague Eric Spinato we wanted to toast him one last time with memories never to be forgotten. Yet Piscopo tells FOX Business when Eric came to one of his shows it was always guaranteed "fun." "Eric was like a brother to me," Piscopo fondly recalled to FOX Business. In a warm blog post, Edelman recalled finishing a FOX Business Network segment with Maria Bartiromo. Courtesy: Maria BartiromoEric was no stranger to the White House, helping orchestrate several of President Trump's FOX Business interviews himself.

Adherents of far-right groups who cluster online have turned repeatedly to one particular website in recent weeks — the federal database showing deaths and adverse reactions nationwide among people who have received COVID-19 vaccinations. On Jan. 6, while rioters advanced on the Capitol, numerous leading figures in the anti-vaccination movement were onstage nearby, holding their own rally to attack both the election results and COVID-19 vaccinations. With their protests continuing, far-right groups deployed many of the same talking points as the vaccination opponents. Maligning the coronavirus vaccines is obviously not limited to extremist groups tied to the Capitol riot. The raw, incomplete VAERS statistics are meant for scientists and medical professionals, but are widely used among extremist groups to try to undermine confidence in the vaccine.

DUBAI (Reuters) - Foreign ministers from China and Iran, which are both subject to U.S. sanctions, signed a landmark 25-year cooperation agreement on Saturday. FILE PHOTO: China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends a meeting with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Guilin, China March 22, 2021. “Our relations with Iran will not be affected by the current situation, but will be permanent and strategic,” Wang said ahead of the televised signing ceremony. “Iran decides independently on its relations with other countries and is not like some countries that change their position with one phone call,” he said. Its commerce ministry said on Thursday that Beijing will try to safeguard the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and defend the legitimate interests of Sino-Iranian relations.

Tehran, Iran – Iran and China have signed a long-gestating 25-year cooperation accord as both countries remain under Unites States sanctions. Rouhani thanked Wang on Saturday for China’s stance on the nuclear deal and standing up to “American unilateralism”. The president also said Iran and China can work together to fight “terrorism and extremism in the region” in addition to economic and trade cooperation. Wang was quoted by the president’s website as saying that maintaining the nuclear deal would mean preserving multilateralism. Iran and China have also cooperated on COVID-19 during the pandemic, with China donating 250,000 doses of its Sinopharm vaccine to Iran last month.

Republicans, Democrats and independents all showed gains in approving how Congress handled the early days of the pandemic, when more than 25 million jobs vanished and hospital wards were flooded. Democratic voters were the most scornful as just 11 percent approved of the performance on Capitol Hill, according to the monthly Gallup poll. That’s the highest level of public approval since June 2009, the last time when at least one in three Americans approved of how Congress handled its work. Experts say this new wave of Congressional support is likely the result of voters enjoying getting direct cash payments from Washington. And, once the stimulus checks are spent, results-oriented independents might view Congress more negatively.

As we prepare to say goodbye to our beloved FOX Business and Fox News colleague Eric Spinato we wanted to toast him one last time with memories never to be forgotten. Yet Piscopo tells FOX Business when Eric came to one of his shows it was always guaranteed "fun." "Eric was like a brother to me," Piscopo fondly recalled to FOX Business. In a warm blog post, Edelman recalled finishing a FOX Business Network segment with Maria Bartiromo. Courtesy: Maria BartiromoEric was no stranger to the White House, helping orchestrate several of President Trump's FOX Business interviews himself.

At 18, Richards is a bonafide TikTok superstar, with over 20 million followers on the video-sharing app (way more than Kylie Jenner's 14.1 million for context) and over 1 billion likes on his posts — which are mostly of himself dancing and lip-syncing to songs. 'I'm a very competitive guy'Richards first started dabbling in social media when he was 13. 'You have to have heart'When ByteDance purchased Musical.ly, Richards says his followers automatically transferred over to TikTok. Then when he turned 17, he made social media his full-time focus while still attending high school. Richards now has 20.1 million followers on TikTok, 6.8 million on Instagram, 2.1 million subscribers on YouTube and 1.1 million follows on Triller.

FILE PHOTO: China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends a news conference following a meeting with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Guilin, China March 23, 2021. Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERSDUBAI (Reuters) - The Chinese and Iranian foreign ministers on Saturday signed a 25-year cooperation agreement between the two allies in a ceremony carried live on state television. “Our relations with Iran will not be affected by the current situation, but will be permanent and strategic,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was earlier quoted by Iranian news agencies as saying. The accord is an example of “successful diplomacy,” Rouhani’s adviser Hesameddin Ashena was cited by Iranian media as saying. Its commerce ministry said on Thursday that Beijing will try to safeguard the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and defend the legitimate interests of Sino-Iranian relations.

Joe Exotic’s husband Dillon Passage confirmed in a series of Instagram posts on Friday (26 March) that he is filing for divorce from the Netflix star. Attorney for Mr Exotic, Francisco Hernandez, told TMZ that he is distraught after speaking to him in prison. Read our privacy notice Independent Culture Newsletter The best in film, music TV & radio straight to your inbox every week Thanks for signing up to the Independent Culture newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy noticeOn his last day as president on 20 January, Mr Trump pardoned 143 people, including rappers Lil Wayne and Kodack Black. Fans of the eccentric personality had expected a pardon after Mr Trump seemed amused by the suggestion during a press conference in April last year.

? Close Related video: Biden blasts ‘sick’ GOP voter suppression initiatives as ‘un-American’Joe Biden has derided the sweeping elections bill signed into law by Republicans in Georgia - introducing tough new voting restrictions that many regard as discriminatory - as “Jim Crow in the 21st Century” and “an atrocity,” saying his Justice Department will be “taking a look” at the measure. His predecessor, Donald Trump, has meanwhile claimed in an interview with Fox News that he actually prefers sending out press releases from his secluded Florida resort home of Mar-a-Lago to being on Twitter, also using the interview to attack Mr Biden’s record on the US-Mexico border, a problem the president inherited from the Trump administration. Elsewhere, Mr Biden has invited China and Russia to return to global climate crisis talks, hoping to bolster international cooperation on the issue and unite the superpowers.

Video: 'Too bad it wasn't sooner': Trump 'congratulates' Georgia on its new election laws after Biden branded the state's updated voter regulations an 'atrocity'Georgia state troopers forcibly remove lawmaker Park Cannon after she protested Gov Brian Kemp's signing of a new voter restriction bill.

Biden: Georgia voting restriction law is 'atrocity' Published 1 hour agoimage copyright Reuters image caption President Biden said this was an "un-American law to deny people the right to vote"US President Joe Biden has likened a new voting law in the state of Georgia to racist policies of the 20th Century US South, calling it an "atrocity". The law adds restrictions to voting that Mr Biden said disproportionately targeted black Americans. What did President Biden say? It makes Georgia the second state to pass laws that restrict ballot access in the aftermath of the 2020 election. Mr Raffensperger, who has staunchly defended the integrity of the state's votes, also backed the new laws.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif greets his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi ahead of the signing of a 25-year cooperation pact between the US rivalsAdvertising Read moreTehran (AFP)Iran and China signed a 25-year "strategic cooperation pact" Saturday in the latest expansion of Beijing's flagship trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative as the US rivals move closer together. Negotiations for the deal, launched five years ago, sparked controversy in Iran last year and virtually no details of its contents have been released. Wang's visit to Tehran comes just days after he hosted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for talks in the Chinese city of Guilin. China and Russia are both parties to the troubled 2015 nuclear accord with Iran that Biden has said he hopes to revive. Biden has said he is not seeking "confrontation" with China, but that there will be intense competition between the rival superpowers.

Ted Cruz and his colleagues had a message for Joe Biden and they kept repeating it. Previously they had been forced to wait in Mexico - something rights activists said was perilous - under rules introduced by Donald Trump. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Did Cruz really need to livestream his visit to the river bank the night before at midnight, whispering as though he was a naturalist.

The Chinese and Iranian foreign ministers on Saturday signed a 25-year cooperation agreement between the two allies in a ceremony carried live on state television. Advertising Read more"Our relations with Iran will not be affected by the current situation, but will be permanent and strategic," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was earlier quoted by Iranian news agencies as saying. "Iran decides independently on its relations with other countries and is not like some countries that change their position with one phone call." Wang met President Hassan Rouhani ahead of the signing of the agreement, which is expected to include Chinese investments in key sectors such as energy and infrastructure. Its commerce ministry said on Thursday that Beijing will try to safeguard the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and defend the legitimate interests of Sino-Iranian relations.

A provision in the just-passed Georgia law would make it a felony to pass out bottled water to voters waiting in line. The West Virginia state Senate approved a measure ending same-day voter registration and cutting a period of early voting. Many, but not all, of those measures would make permanent some of the temporary voting rights expansions implemented in the midst of the pandemic. J.B. Pritzker (D) a bill to expand mail-in voting and curbside voting. Washington legislators passed a bill to restore voting rights to felons once they get out of prison.

Election Defamation Lawsuits Open New Front In Fight Against DisinformationEnlarge this image toggle caption Jessica McGowan/Getty Images Jessica McGowan/Getty ImagesThe victims of some of the most pernicious conspiracy theories of 2020 are fighting back in court. The idea of using defamation lawsuits makes us a little bit concerned." "Money is what matters to a media company, and so a defamation lawsuit is a big way to do that. One challenge for the plaintiffs is that defamation lawsuits are difficult to win. The parents of children killed in the Sandy Hook shooting have filed multiple defamation lawsuits against Alex Jones of the conspiracy site, InfoWars.

A former high school quarterback who friends say still relishes being at the center of the action, Mr. Manchin is something of a unicorn in today’s Congress. As a pro-coal and anti-abortion Democrat, he reflects a less-homogenized era when regionalism was as significant as partisanship and senators were more individual actors than predictable votes for their caucus. Twice elected governor before claiming Mr. Byrd’s seat, he’s the only lawmaker standing in the way of an all-Republican congressional delegation in West Virginia, a state that former President Donald J. Trump carried by nearly 40 points last year. “We really are the big tent,” said Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, before knowingly adding: “Now it’s a lot of work when you have a big tent, right? And while he may admire Mr. Byrd’s dedication to Senate tradition, Mr. Manchin has not emulated his predecessor by leveraging his power to focus relentlessly on steering spending projects back to West Virginia.

The IndependentThe former head of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says Covid-19 "most likely" came from a laboratory in Wuhan where Chinese scientists were conducting research on coronaviruses. Robert Redfield, the CDC director in the Trump administration, said in a new interview with CNN on Friday that Covid-19 likely began spreading in September or October of 2019 after likely infecting a lab worker accidentally. Dr Anthony Fauci addressed the comments during the White House’s Covid-19 response news briefing on Friday, saying there were more likely explanations of the virus origin than having come from a laboratory.

It’s just after lunchtime, and before we speak he’s been watching events unfold live on the news; mouth open, sandwich untouched. Fortunately, Ahmed is 2,600 miles away from the trouble, in rural California, where he has just finished shooting Invasion: a science-fiction thriller from Michael Pearce, the Bafta-winning director of Beast. “I think it would be hard to do that kind of satire now. Ahmed’s outstanding new film, Sound of Metal, is the kind of spellbinding character piece that is too often jostled out of the Oscars race by heftier competitors. Sound of Metal has also picked up four nominations for the Baftas, in two weeks’ time.

Republican supporters say the law is needed to restore confidence in Georgia’s elections. The law gives the State Election Board new powers to intervene in county election offices and to remove and replace local election officials. Now early voting would begin “as soon as possible” but no later than the second Monday before the election, possibly leaving as little as five weekdays and no weekend days of early voting. A Democratic-backed measure passed the House earlier this month, but faces opposition from Senate Republicans wary of a federal takeover of state elections. It would expand voting by mail, promote early voting and give states money to track absentee ballots.

Lawmakers repeatedly pressed the CEOs on how their platforms were tackling hate speech and misinformation more widely. Zuckerberg similarly said that hate speech policies at Facebook are “nuanced” and that they have an obligation to protect free speech. Hate crimes and hate speech against Asian Americans has been on the rise. “Clearly Spanish language misinformation is an issue.” The hearing marked the latest in a long line of panels on misinformation and hate speech. Meanwhile, Dorsey put forward his plan of allowing for an open protocol shared by tech platforms to create more transparency surrounding how content is moderated.

Vice President Kamala Harris has been asked by President Biden to oversee the administration’s response to the growing migrant crisis at the border. It’s a very different story with Vela’s 300-mile-long district in southern Texas. This was made clear in November when President Biden was only able to win Vela’s district by 4 points after Hillary Clinton carried the district by 22 points in 2016. Despite making up 41% of the state’s population, white Texans make up 61% of lawmakers in the state House and Senate, according to the Texas Tribune. Besides Vela, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez won reelection by just 3 points in his south Texas district in 2020 while Biden squeaked by with 2 points.

And so, in 2015, it came as no great shock when the university’s president, Mark Schlissel, rejected student calls for divestment from fossil fuel companies. “Fossil fuels enable us to operate the university, to conduct research and to provide patient care,” he said. “At this moment, there is no viable alternative to fossil fuels at the necessary scale. “Fossil fuel assets will diminish in value,” he told me on Thursday, “perhaps more quickly than many realize. In this case, that means immediate divestment, in an effort to break the power of the fossil fuel industry that still fights for delay.

After the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, President Donald Trump vowed to use executive power to ban bump stocks, a type of firearm accessory that the shooter reportedly used. Put differently, the federal government began to reinterpret the federal ban on machine guns to ban bump stocks too. The 6th Circuit then took its own look at the text of the federal machine gun ban and decided that "a bump stock does not fall within the statutory definition of a machine gun." In sum, Trump's attempt to impose gun control via executive fiat lost big. "It is not the role of the executive—particularly the unelected administrative state—to dictate" the terms of criminal law, the 6th Circuit maintained.

Fox News is facing another massive lawsuit over its conspiracy-addled 2020 election coverage. Now, a suit filed by Dominion Voting Systems, another election technology company, could bleed it of another another $1.6 billion. Smartmatic, one of the companies targeted with the conspiracies, filed a suit last month against Fox News and Fox Business Network, naming Bartiromo, Dobbs, and other hosts as defendants. Fox immediately moved to dismiss that suit, claiming it was simply covering Trump’s election claims—not promoting them. “Fox took a small flame,” the Dominion suit read, and “turned it into a forest fire” as “part of an orchestrated defamatory campaign” against the company.

As creatives, Titania Tran, Jamon Sin, and Mimi Munoz work at the award-winning ad agency Wieden+Kennedy to help such major brands as Nike, Old Spice, KFC, and P&G. But as Asian-Americans, they have all been personally affected by the rising levels of anti-Asian racism and hate crimes seen around the world . “I think we all realized that we had a platform and the resources to do so,” says Munoz, a producer on the project. “We created a format to provide perspective, to share one’s current experience, thought process, and point of view,” says Sin. “A conversation that pulls you in with every word that hits the screen.

Trust in the military is droppingThe Ronald Reagan Institute’s latest National Defense Survey was shows trust in the military has dropped 14 percentage points over the past three years. Kirby’s announcement was featured on the official Defense Department site with the headline “Press Secretary Smites Host That Dissed Diversity in U.S. Military.” Maybe BuzzFeed writers are enlisting these days. As a person who has served in the military, perhaps the brass will allow me to state my humble, nonpartisan advice: Please shut up. A long-serving Pentagon official should know to avoid even the appearance of partisan rhetoric. Our military leaders, men and women alike, should leave the media criticism to schlubs like me.

In its suit against Fox, Dominion alleges that it repeatedly notified the network that it had aired falsehoods and also sent retraction requests to Fox. And they’re private firms, and very little is known about their ownership, beyond what you’re saying about Dominion. Do you think that’s a fair statement?” (Jan. 4, Fox Business Network)Maria Bartiromo, Fox News“There is much to understand about Smartmatic, which owns Dominion Voting Systems. Why do they leave our country?” (Nov. 15, Fox News)ADAD“We have a machine, the Dominion machine … [that] was developed to steal elections, and being used in the states that are involved.” (Dec. 12, Fox News)Tucker Carlson, Fox NewsLINDELL: I’ve been all in trying to find the machine fraud and I — we found it. … I dare Dominion to sue me because then it will get out faster.

Former President Donald Trump is "really concerned" about the migrant situation along the U.S.-Mexico border and may schedule a visit to the region, a former Trump aide said this week. Jason Miller shared comments about Trump’s thinking during an appearance on the podcast of conservative talk show host Michael Berry. "I could see him doing that soon," Miller said about a possible Trump visit to the border region, according to a recap of the conversation posted by Detroit radio station WJR. "Not immediately, but I could see a trip, some point in the future here, but it is something that [former] President Trump is really concerned about." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPNeither Biden nor Harris have visited the border region since taking office but members of the administration joined members of Congress in a visit to a facility in Texas on Wednesday.

The equally lovely Greek word for that tendency is apophenia. QAnon believers tried to make sure it wouldn’t, forming a prominent contingent during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot that left five people dead. Nothing happens by chance; trust the plan, as a popular QAnon saying goes. Nothing happens by chance; trust the plan, as a popular QAnon saying goes. “People have fallen back on the endless anticipation with no particular date.”BuzzFeed News reporter Albert Samaha recently wrote a moving essay about his mother’s headlong rush into the QAnon conspiracy.

Fox News personalities on Friday complained about CNN’s fact-checking of President Joe Biden — and received a sharp fact-check in response. Might be worth watching CNN's coverage — or at least doing a simple scan of his work, which is available on his CNN bio page — before going on-air and trashing it! https://t.co/HBydAlVh1p — Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) March 27, 2021“Like this really isn’t hard stuff,” Darcy added, linking to Dale’s on-air fact-check of Biden:Like this really isn't hard stuff. “If Biden behaved identically to Trump from a fact-check perspective, the fact-check coverage would be identical,” he wrote. This is not a complicated concept.”If Biden behaved identically to Trump from a fact-check perspective, the fact-check coverage would be identical.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The leader of Michigan’s Republican Party referred to Gov. He also joked about assassination when he was asked how to remove two GOP congressmen, Reps. Fred Upton and Peter Meijer, who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump. Someone asked Weiser about “witches in our own party.”He said: “Ma’am, other than assassination, I have no other way other than voting out. The Michigan Democratic Party and two Democratic members of the university board said Weiser, a major donor to the school, should resign. Do better, Michigan GOP.

Approves New Vaccine Production Sites The United States could soon have a glut of vaccine doses. On Wednesday, the it revealed emergency legislation that would curb exports of Covid-19 vaccines manufactured in its countries for the next six weeks. Credit... Allison Zaucha for The New York Times The Biden administration’s relatively smooth coronavirus vaccine distribution effort is about to hit a snag. More than 87 million have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, according to a New York Times database. Argentina is delaying applying the second dose of Covid-19 vaccines for three months to prioritize giving people at least one dose amid a sluggish vaccination drive.

Added: 27.03.2021 9:07 | 7 views | 0 commentsFormer President Donald Trump is "really concerned" about the migrant situation along the U.S.-Mexico border and may schedule a visit to the region, a former Trump aide said this week.

A maritime traffic jam grew to around 280 vessels Saturday outside the Suez Canal, according to canal service provider Leth Agencies. Check out the 5 Things podcast:Another Passover during the pandemicSaturday marks the beginning of the Jewish holiday Passover, which will be observed until Sunday, April 4. fatima wrote, kb editedNCAA men's and women's tournaments resume with Sweet 16The NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments resume Saturday, when the Sweet 16 tips off. 12 seed Oregon State in a Midwest region matchup. Oregon State is one of four Pac-12 teams still in the field, with Oregon, USC and UCLA all playing games on Sunday.

“The View” co-host Meghan McCain blasted the media Friday over its coverage of President Biden’s first formal press conference. he didn’t do a press conference. When he finally did a press conference he didn’t talk or answer one question about the pandemic and he didn’t answer any questions from any media that didn’t agree with him,” McCain explained. “I was watching some shows this morning — there’s no need to slobber all over Joe Biden right now. Even Drudge Report founder Matt Drudge trumpeted Biden’s performance on his website with headlines like, “JOE’S NO DRAMA PRESS CONFERENCE” and “CHILL STYLE.”

The federal government's response to Covid-19 has allowed millions of Americans to defer payments on their mortgages, rent, student loans and utility bills. "As the pandemic winds down, there is a lot of debt overhang: deferred rent, deferred mortgages, deferred student loans. Many utility companies have also voluntarily allowed consumers to pause their payments on electric and gas bills during the economic crisis. In the end, the federal government will have to decide whether and how it can provide more assistance and relief," he said. "But the agency, if strong, can ensure fair treatment under the law for some of our most financially vulnerable consumers."

A state lawmaker in Georgia has been arrested and charged amid protests over a new election bill. Video shows Ms Cannon knocking on the governor's door in protest and then being handcuffed and escorted out of the building by two Georgia state troopers. The new election laws have received the backing of national Republican groups, which say they will "secure and strengthen state election systems". It gives the state legislature greater power over the state election board. Democrats say the move would allow votes in certain counties to be thrown out, which Mr Trump advocated for after his loss.

As racial tensions spilled into America’s streets, the Trump administration repeatedly sought to eliminate a long-standing Justice Department unit that for decades has mediated racial, ethnic and gender clashes that are once again surging across the country. John Yang, president of the advocacy group Asian Americans Advancing Justice, said the Trump Justice Department was "just not trusted." Following the 9/11 attacks, CRS staffers intervened in Muslim and Arab-American communities in an attempt to contain a backlash that ranged from harassment to violence. Staffing languished under TrumpFor the Trump administration, however, defunding the Justice unit had become a sustained campaign. Yang said a key component of the Justice Department response should involve a well-funded and re-stocked Community Relations Service to expand its reach to troubled communities.

And so begins the normalization process of a white nationalist whose influence caused so much pain at the border and elsewhere. Share Email to a Friend Embed In any other White House, someone like Stephen Miller never would have had a job. Politico quoted Miller without noting his alarming white nationalist background. “It was a global policy, allowing and encouraging media access,” Miller told Politico on Wednesday. The correspondence exposes Miller as a promoter of white nationalist websites, xenophobic conspiracy theories, and immigration policy rooted in eugenics.

Present bias, by contrast, is an example of cognitive bias—the collection of faulty ways of thinking that is apparently hardwired into the human brain. To understand that I shouldn’t believe my lying eyes.” That’s doable with the optical illusion, he said, but extremely difficult with real-world cognitive biases. It contains a few dozen problems meant to measure the subjects’ resistance to cognitive biases. Some subjects played the game, which takes about three hours to complete, while others watched a video about cognitive bias. But all of my training in cognitive biases told me that was faulty thinking.

Holding his son in his arms, Kevin tried to calm his wife's nerves by reminding her to breathe. Kevin was a barber in Honduras and made enough to support his family, but the coronavirus pandemic put him out of business. The number of immigrants encountered along the US–Mexico border this year has been steadily increasing since the spring of 2020, but even more so this year. In February, US Customs and Border Protection agents encountered 100,441 immigrants along the border, an increase from 78,442 in January. A CBP official said that in March, border agents have encountered an average of about 5,000 immigrants a day, which would be a total of 155,000 for the month.

As Women's History Month comes to an end, it's time once again to pass the mic to Muslim women. In 2017, Muslim Girl launched Muslim Women’s Day on March 27, as a response to the travel ban, in order to elevate stories and share experiences from the community in the mainstream media. Now, on the fifth Muslim Women’s Day, many people are once again organizing to celebrate the day and elevate Muslim women’s voices. Muslim Girl also explained exactly what the day means, and what you can do to support it:This is a day to celebrate Muslim women and flood the Internet with positive representations of who Muslim women are. Anyone can take part, from uploading pics on social media of the Muslim women in your life to showing some love to your favorite Muslim women accounts to follow.

As a result, the Supreme Court on March 9 dismissed two appeals launched before Trump left office that sought to preserve the rule after lower courts ruled against it. Biden, who has criticized Trump's immigration approach, was widely expected to dump the public charge rule. Friday's filing was the first emergency application made at the Supreme Court against a Biden administration policy move. Story continuesA central issue in the various legal challenges to the "public charge" rule was which immigrants would be eligible for legal permanent residency, commonly known as a "green card." U.S. immigration law has long required officials to exclude people likely to become a "public charge" from permanent residency.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said on Friday it will issue a proposed rule to preserve and fortify a program for immigrants, nicknamed "Dreamers," who are living illegally in the United States after entering as children. "We are taking action to preserve and fortify DACA. This is in keeping with the President's memorandum," Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement. DACA was created by Democratic former President Barack Obama, under whom Biden served as vice president. Republican former President Donald Trump had tried to end the program.

Science will eventually figure it out," Redfield told CNN's Sanjay Gupta. "It's not unusual for respiratory pathogens that are being worked on in a laboratory to infect the laboratory worker. "I do not believe this somehow came from a bat to a human and at that moment in time that the virus came to the human, became one of the most infectious viruses that we know in humanity for human-to-human transmission. "Between the lines: Lab accidents in the U.S. are not especially rare, as USA Today's Alison Young noted in a recent opinion piece arguing why the Wuhan lab theory cannot be ruled out. Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free.

She is also advising state lawmakers crafting the voting restriction proposals. More than 250 proposed voting restrictions have been proposed this year by mostly Republican lawmakers, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. She says she'll use that role to “coordinate” conservative voting positions, particularly in opposition to H.R. And Mitchell said she's been talking regularly with Republican state lawmakers about the need for new election laws. She also is chair of the Public Interest Legal Foundation, a conservative election law project that she said may get involved in litigation against H.R.

US President Joe Biden speaks to the media as he arrives in Newcastle, Delaware, U.S., March 26, 2021. Georgia's sweeping new voting restrictions came under attack on Friday, with civil rights groups challenging them in court and President Joe Biden saying the U.S. Justice Department was examining what he called an "atrocity" of a law. "President Biden, the left, and the national media are determined to destroy the sanctity and security of the ballot box." Other states pursuing voting restrictionsOther Republican-controlled state legislatures are pursuing voting restrictions in election battleground states, including Florida and Arizona, after former President Donald Trump repeatedly blamed his loss to Biden on massive voter fraud without evidence. As he contested his national loss to Biden, Trump focused much of his energy in Georgia.

For many undocumented migrants, particularly adult men, what they hoped would be an open door thanks to US President Joe Biden has turned out to be a revolving door back to Mexico. In February, the US Customs and Border Protection agency detained about 100,000 people at the southern border -- a 28 percent increase over January. "That's life," one of them said despondently as he walked towards Ciudad Juarez. In contrast, those allowed to enter the United States to continue their asylum process thanks to one of Biden's reforms looked overjoyed. For deported migrants at the US-Mexican border who still dream of starting a new life in the United States, the only option is to wait.

“It’s not unusual for respiratory pathogens that are being worked on in a laboratory to infect a laboratory worker,” he said. U.S. infectious disease chief Anthony Fauci, who served in the Trump administration and now serves under President Joe Biden, said most public health officials disagree with the Chinese lab theory, when asked about Redfield’s comments during a White House COVID-19 briefing. A World Health Organization report on its investigation into the origins of the coronavirus is expected soon. The head of the WHO-led team in February said bats remain a likely source and effectively ruled out a lab leak. (This story corrects Redfield quote to “etiology” not “ideology” in paragraph 2)

If you’re wondering whether our military leadership has gone woke, consider that question settled for good. They're White supremacists. Just last month, Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, the commander of the Air Force Education and Training Command, made it explicit. He acknowledged that the Air Force was recruiting candidates with a private pilot's license. In October, the head of Air Force recruiting office, Major General Ed Thomas, published a piece on Yahoo entitled, "86% of Air Force pilots are [W]hite men.

Michigan Republicans this week proposed changes to state voting laws and have come up with a veto-proof way to circumvent Democrat Gov. The Michigan effort also comes as Georgia signed into law changes that make absentee voting harder and Democrats in Congress are working on a bill that would expand voting rights by setting national standards. "This is how the Michigan Republicans do business. And then they find ways to suppress the vote, because even they know that when people vote, Democrats win." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPMichigan Democratic Party Chairwoman Lavora Barnes noted that 67% of Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2018 that, among other changes, allowed for no-excuse absentee voting.

Two voting rights groups, the New Georgia Project and Black Voters Matter, filed a federal lawsuit challenging the law hours after Gov. “We are filing this lawsuit for one simple reason: SB 202 should be classified as a violation of voting rights. The bill also blocks Barron from again using two mobile voting buses, which the county spent more than $700,000 on. Republicans won every statewide runoff race in Georgia between 1992 and 2021, when they lost two US Senate runoff elections. Republicans who pushed the bill have said it is needed to increase confidence in the election process.

But instead of targeting drafting errors, she wanted two sections of the bill tossed out and two other parts revised. In this new version, transgender athletes could play college sports.It wasn’t quite that Noem had a change of heart. “If South Dakota passes a law that’s against their policy, they will likely take punitive action against us. That same night, Fox News aired a commercial promoting South Dakota. South Dakota spent $819,000 on it.Noem’s national profile was rising and Republicans in many states invited her to attend events, campaign for their candidates and speak at rallies.

A House subcommittee hearing on Wednesday took a look at domestic terrorism at the state and local level, from prosecutors’ perspectives. The former heads of congressional security, and particularly disgraced Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, traded accusations of irresponsibility during high-profile hearings in February. Short of that, these hearings should continue.”Members of Congress have not utterly shrunk from holding those responsible for Jan. 6 to account. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL), who spoke at the rally on Jan. 6, is kicking off a bid for U.S. Senate. After 9/11, the first inquiry came from the joint congressional intelligence committees, which looked at intelligence failures in isolation.

This year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported a 28 percent increase in the number of migrants apprehended along the southern border during the month of February. President Biden at his first press briefing, in the East Room of the White House, on Thursday. “The only people we’re not going to let sit there on the other side of the Rio Grande with no help is children,” Biden said Thursday. “The misinformation being given by President Biden on immigration is stunning,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., tweeted during Biden’s speech. On Wednesday, Biden announced that he was putting Vice President Kamala Harris in charge of efforts to stem the tide of migration along the southern border.

Republican supporters say the law is needed to restore confidence in Georgia’s elections. The law gives the State Election Board new powers to intervene in county election offices and to remove and replace local election officials. Now early voting would begin “as soon as possible” but no later than the second Monday before the election, possibly leaving as little as five weekdays and no weekend days of early voting. A Democratic-backed measure passed the House earlier this month but faces opposition from Senate Republicans wary of a federal takeover of state elections. It would expand voting by mail, promote early voting and give states money to track absentee ballots.

It is not initially clear if Western democracy is going to survive this conversation with Riz Ahmed, though that isn’t the 38-year-old British actor’s fault. It’s just after lunchtime, and before we speak he’s been watching events unfold live on the news; mouth open, sandwich untouched. “I think it would be hard to do that kind of satire now. Ahmed’s outstanding new film, Sound of Metal, is the kind of spellbinding character piece that is too often jostled out of the Oscars race by heftier competitors. Sound of Metal has also picked up four nominations for the Baftas, in two weeks’ time.

Donald Trump has issued a formal statement asking whether Special Counsel John Durham is still 'living' and demanding to know whether he will ever issue his report on the origins of the FBI's Russia collusion investigation. Donald Trump has issued a formal statement on Friday asking whether Special Counsel John Durham is still 'living'Since the November election, Durham has maintained a remarkably low profile. He last spoke publicly in February, to confirm that he would resign from his position as the top federal prosecutor in Connecticut but would remaining as a special counsel to conclude his probe. Durham was appointed in October by then-Attorney General William Barr as a special counsel to investigate the origins of Crossfire Hurricane, and whether it was executed on solid legal footing. That probe was inherited nearly a year later by special counsel Mueller, who ultimately did not find enough evidence to charge Trump or any of his associates with conspiring with Russia.

"The regular U.S. use of economic sanctions has had a devastating humanitarian impact on communities, with women and girls often the hardest hit." "On top of it all, they are proven to undermine the work of changemakers struggling for progress within sanctioned countries. "By raising food and fuel prices, weakening water infrastructure, and making medical equipment and care harder to access, economic sanctions only deepen these burdens." Calls for sanctions relief have likewise grown louder in Washington, with Democratic Senator Chris Murphy penning a letter urging the Biden administration to lift the ban on diesel swaps. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Thursday sent their own letter urging Biden to "use the full force of our diplomatic and economic tools" in relations with Iran.

Decrying the passage of House Bill 1 in the Florida legislature on Friday, the state's ACLU chapter warned that if the undemocratic anti-protest bill pushed by Republican Gov. —Micah Kubic, ACLU of Florida"It is shameful that this bill has passed in the House," Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU of Florida, said in a statement. "We've said it before and will state it again," Kubic continued: "This bill is not intended to increase public safety. Over 95% of protests across the state of Florida have been peaceful." HB 1, the anti-protest bill, is being debated on the Florida House floor today.

—President Joe Biden"This is Jim Crow in the 21st century. It must end," Biden said in a lengthy statement about the Georgia law. The president noted the crucial impact that Georgia voters had on national politics in the 2020 election cycle. In Georgia we saw this most historic demonstration of the power of the vote twice," Biden said Friday. It adds rigid restrictions on casting absentee ballots that will effectively deny the right to vote to countless voters.

), and Angus King (I-Maine)—who caucuses with the Democrats—led a larger group of lawmakers Thursday in introducing a resolution of disapproval, under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), to reinstate Obama-era methane rules. Notably, such a resolution allows for Congress to take action while avoiding the filibuster in the Senate. The outlet noted that "it would be the first rollback of Trump environmental policy Democrats target with the CRA" and "would come as lawmakers are rapidly approaching the deadline to use the technique." Bolder action is urgently needed after four years of reckless Trump administration policies and feet-dragging by industry on climate," said Lauren Pagel, Earthworks policy director. This CRA is just one of many initiatives the Senate Democratic majority will undertake to address the climate crisis.

And you’ll have the whole ideal of Russia, China, and other countries being the ideal of not only Marx, but Adam Smith, John Stuart Mill, Ricardo. And the American economy is all about extracting rent through the real estate sector, the financial sector, the health insurance sector, the monopolies and infrastructure sector. The free world was a world centrally planned by the American military and finance together. If there’s no European central bank to borrow, to pump euros into the world economy, then, only dollars will be left for central bank reserves. Well I wonder whether that’s going to be a model for what’s happening in the United States with the ethnic war here.

In particular, during the movement to independence, calypso music would include common messages of freedom, anti-colonialism and empowerment of African descended people. After Trinidad and Tobago gained independence in 1962, calypso music continued to be used as an outlet for political commentary. The blend of African and European cultures has created popular dance music, music played on simple acoustic instruments. Another explanation is that at a recording session in 1959 produced by Coxsone Dodd, double bassist Cluett Johnson instructed guitarist Ranglin to "play like ska, ska, ska", although Ranglin has denied this, stating "Clue couldn't tell me what to play!" Derrick Morgan said: "Guitar and piano making a ska sound, like 'ska, ska".

By now, you know that Donald Trump is making plans for his own social media platform. Trump BFF and MyPillow Guy Mike Lindell recently announced he’s rolling out a new social media outlet—“Frank.”MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, the Trump ally who pushed voter-fraud conspiracy theories, has just offered a first glimpse at his new social-media site. Frank is set to launch fully in 10 to 14 days, Lindell told "The Eric Metaxas Radio Show" on Tuesday. Lindell has been secretly creating his own social-media platform over the past four years, he said earlier this month. I know, I know, Gab has survived despite being blackballed from iPhones and Androids.

It's unclear just how effectively these provisions will deter Black voters and Democrats from voting as Republicans undoubtedly intend. Voting Access Expansions? Delaware: State Senate Democrats have passed a bill in a committee to adopt automatic voter registration. Democratic legislators also passed another bill that sets minimum requirements for absentee ballot drop box locations. Northam has until Wednesday to take action on the remaining voting bills passed in the most recent legislative session. ? West Virginia: State Senate Republicans have passed a bill with almost all Democrats voting against it that would enact major new restrictions on voting.

He once again endorsed the talking filibuster, saying that it would force senators "to stand there and talk and talk and talk and talk until you collapse" if they wanted to opposed a bill. The showdown over the filibuster is coming sooner rather than later and it will likely be over voting rights. And this Senate will take action to protect the voting rights of tens of millions of Americans. Meanwhile, self-declared king Sen. Joe Manchin has issued his decree on what he would find acceptable in a law, proving that bipartisanship is more important to him than protecting voting rights. He ignores most of the major and critical provisions to restore democracy including gerrymandering reform, voter registration expansion and improvements, vote-by-mail access, voter purge prevention—all the things that Republicans have attacked in their voter suppression efforts.

Other research suggests that it was instead the lax approach to the pandemic that led to Trump’s eventual defeat. His own pollster, Tony Fabrizio, produced research showing how those who voted against Trump were more likely to view his response to the pandemic critically. “Trump’s vote share increased by 2 percentage points on average across counties nationally,” the researchers find. https://t.co/lZGwinPOIb — The New York Times (@nytimes) March 27, 2021And what would make us more depressed, an informal economy in so-called vaccine passports. Those falsified results can be purchased for $25 in less than 30 minutes.#FreshVoicesRise https://t.co/AD6GEKIK7N — ?PrincezzP? (@juslilmissp) March 27, 2021

“Fox wanted to continue to protect its broadcast ratings, catering to an audience deeply loyal to President Trump.”Dominion's filing against Fox follows other defamation suits it already filed against Powell, Rudy Giuliani, and MyPillow guy Mike Lindell. In actuality, multiple polls have shown the vast majority of Republicans believe the election was stolen from Trump. Fox News, of course, deemed Powell’s claims credible enough to air to many millions of its viewers. “Viewers began fleeing Fox in favor of media outlets endorsing the lie that massive fraud caused President Trump to lose the election,” the company said in the lawsuit. “They saw Fox as insufficiently supportive of President Trump ...

Last month Michigan GOP Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey called the January 6th Trump Insurrection a "hoax" and claimed he "spanked" Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Weiser responded that the party is focused on beating the "three witches" in 2022, referring to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson — the three statewide Democratic leaders who are up for re-election next year. Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson "witches" and referenced calling elected women "witches" and the GOP needs to make sure "they are ready for the burning at the stake." To top it off, the MI GOP is trying to damage the democratic process by using a loophole in the state constitution to ram through massive voter suppression bills:

Come to think of it, why DO they oppose all this good, good stuff, which the public clearly wants? It’s the most sickeningly anti-American thing I’ve seen since...ok, January 6th wasn’t that long ago, but you get my point. You may recall this tactic from the LOCK YOUR DOORS SWEET JESUS IT’S A MIGRANT CARAVAN freakout preceding the 2018 midterms. Take care of yourselves out there, my friends, and may all your breakfast cereals remain generally shrimp-free. You should really sign up for updates, and follow @CapShower on the Tweetymachine, because there might just be a new comic book a-comin’...

The bill is coming due for Fox News for having recklessly, repeatedly, and maliciously spread flagrant falsehoods to support Donald Trump's Big Lie over election fraud. Dominion Voting Systems has just announced that they are suing Fox for defamation to the tune of $1.6 billion. And Fox News has also been sued by Smartmatic, a voting software services company that alleges similar defamation in Fox's election reporting. Fox News is going to have a hard time defending itself from these lawsuits. There is an abundance of evidence that supports the claims, and most of it consists of video from Fox News itself.

I give you Mississippi Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith:x Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith defends preventing people from voting on Sunday, because God pic.twitter.com/69tYzgi4jU — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 24, 2021Transcript! Schumer’s question was, he was wondering why on Sundays Georgia would not participate in an electorial [sic] process of gathering signatures ... registration and things on Sunday, and I would just like to respond to that. pic.twitter.com/QY0p2tFP5U — Jim Wallis (@jimwallis) February 27, 2021Secondly, Georgia’s proposed “no doing election stuff on Sundays” rule has fuck-all to do with God, unless God is an unreconstructed racist, too. The Atlanta Journal Constitution:The proposal to end in-person early voting on Sundays would be a blow to Black churches that host “Souls to the Polls” get-out-the-vote events. Thanks to Goodbye, Asshat: 101 Farewell Letters to Donald Trump, Dear F*cking Lunatic, Dear Pr*sident A**clown and Dear F*cking Moron, you can purge the Trump years from your soul sans the existential dread.

My wife Valeria and I have just visited a prison to see arguably the most prominent political prisoner of today, a person of unusual significance in contemporary global politics. Lula is by far the most popular candidate and would easily win a fair election, not the outcome preferred by the plutocracy. Returning to the Bolsonaro-Guedes prescriptions for undermining Brazil, it is important to bear in mind the overwhelming power of finance in the Brazilian political economy. Some Brazilians at least, but not those who hold economic power. One important example is buying elections, a topic that has been studied in depth, particularly by political scientist Thomas Ferguson.

Were President Biden ending U.S. participation in the war, and were he and various Congress Members serious in their rhetoric about Congressional legislative powers, he would be delighted for Congress to legislate an end to the war. Since Biden is not ending U.S. participation in the war, Congress is obliged to act. On February 4, President Biden announced in vague terms the ending of U.S. participation in this war. The letter also asked the President whether he would support Congress ending the war. Congress needs to permanently end weapons shipments to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

A joint hearing entitled “Disinformation Nation: Social Media’s Role in Promoting Extremism and Misinformation” was held on Thursday by two subcommittees of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and at which the CEOs of Facebook, Google and Twitter testified. After the respective committee and subcommittee chairpersons gave their opening statements, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Google (Alphabet) CEO Sundar Pichai and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey delivered their prepared remarks. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Thursday, March 25, 2021. They can be summarized as follows: The Democrats are demanding that social media and internet content—especially left-wing criticism of the Biden administration considered “divisive,” “harmful” and “extremist”—be directly regulated by the government. The Democratic Party position was articulated by Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey in his opening statement.

His remarks underscore the mounting bipartisan clamour in Washington against Beijing and the accelerating danger of the Biden administration, not China, provoking a war. Combined with naval provocations in the South and East China Seas and trade war measures against China, this has dramatically escalated geopolitical tensions. Tensions in the narrow Taiwan Strait between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, which repeatedly flared in the past, were defused. Over the past decade, US actions, particularly under the Trump administration, have destabilised the inherently unstable and highly-charged issues surrounding Taiwan’s status. It has repeated statements that Taiwan is part of China and conducted military exercises near Taiwan.

On Thursday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed into law a sweeping attack on voting rights aimed at crippling the ability of poor, minority and working class people to cast a ballot. Georgia is the first of these states to turn its proposals to gut voting rights into law. The entire working class must be united in the struggle to defeat the attack on voting rights. The current assault on voting rights is an escalation of an attack that has been ongoing for decades, against which the Democratic Party has mounted no serious opposition. In 2013, the Supreme Court carried out the next major attack on voting rights in its 5–4 decision to overturn Section 5 of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965, the most important gain of the mass civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 1960s.

“It was zero threat right from the start, it was zero threat.” Trump said on the Laura Ingraham show. At least five people died during the siege on the Capitol, including Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick, who died after getting doused with bear spray during the attack. Despite the deadly intentions of the crowd, several of whom were seen carrying zip ties and clubs as they entered the Capitol and attempted to kidnap and assassinate lawmakers, Trump attempted to paint his supporters as good patriots. Rhodes posted another photo in the chat with the caption, “Trump better do his damn duty,” a reference to Trump invoking the Insurrection Act. Patriots entering their own Capitol to send a message to the traitors is NOTHING compared to what’s coming if Trump doesn’t take decisive action right now.

Mitchell, a long time GOP lawyer, is advising state lawmakers on voting law and strategy, leading one advocacy campaign and advising others and is also in regular contact with Trump. Mitchell, a long time GOP lawyer, is advising state lawmakers on voting law and strategy, leading one advocacy campaign and advising others and is also in regular contact with Trump. She is also advising state lawmakers crafting the voting restriction proposals. She says she’ll use that role to “coordinate” conservative voting positions, particularly in opposition to H.R. She also is chair of the Public Interest Legal Foundation, a conservative election law project that she said may get involved in litigation against H.R.

The president is seeking to revive a U.S.-convened forum of the world’s major economies on climate that George W. Bush and Barack Obama both used and Donald Trump let languish. The Biden administration intentionally looked beyond its international partners for the summit, reaching out to key leaders for what it said would sometimes be tough talks on climate matters, an administration official said. Another Biden administration official said the U.S. is still deciding how far the administration will go in setting a more ambitious U.S. emissions target. Climate scientists and climate policy experts largely welcomed Biden’s international overture on climate negotiations, especially the outreach to China. Biden and other administration officials have been stressing U.S. climate intentions during early one-on-one talks with foreign leaders, and Biden climate envoy John Kerry has focused on diplomacy abroad to galvanize climate efforts.

President Joe Biden says addressing a nuclearized North Korea is his top foreign policy issue. (March 25)Video Transcript- Overnight, we learned that North Korea tested two ballistic missiles. What, if any, actions will you take, and what is your red line on North Korea? - Former President Obama warned the incoming President Trump that North Korea was the top foreign policy issue that he was watching. Is that how you assess the crisis in North Korea?

In his press conference on March 25, President Biden called North Korea the nation’s greatest national security threat. That is all to the good, but is not really the same thing as a North Korea policy. Dismantle North Korean nuclear sitesSpecifically, working with regional partners, we should seek to persuade North Korea to dismantle verifiably its nuclear production sites. Only a long-term two-step nuclear disarmament process can work with North Korea, and the new Biden policy should begin from that premise. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden needs to slow down on demanding North Korean disarmament

The president is seeking to revive a US-convened forum of the world’s major economies on climate that George W. Bush and Barack Obama both used and Donald Trump let languish. The Biden administration intentionally looked beyond its international partners for the summit, reaching out to key leaders for what it said would sometimes be tough talks on climate matters, an administration official said. Another Biden administration official said the US is still deciding how far the administration will go in setting a more ambitious US emissions target. Climate scientists and climate policy experts largely welcomed Biden's international overture on climate negotiations, especially the outreach to China. Biden and other administration officials have been stressing US climate intentions during early one-on-one talks with foreign leaders, and Biden climate envoy John Kerry has focused on diplomacy abroad to galvanize climate efforts.

(Las Vegas Review-Journal)The merits of President Joe Biden’s forthcoming infrastructure bill depend on his definition of infrastructure. One of the amusing subplots of the Trump administration was its many aborted attempts to focus on infrastructure before the president’s fast Twitter fingers changed the subject. In a report released this month, it argues the country needs to spend almost $6 trillion on infrastructure over the next 10 years. The $3 trillion bill may include “free” community college and universal pre-K. The nation needs an infrastructure bill that focuses on infrastructure — and that means roads, bridges and the like.

North Korea threatened a further military build-up on Saturday in response to Joe Biden’s condemnation of this week’s missile launches, a weapons test that marked Pyongyang’s first substantive provocation since the U.S. president took office. North Korea has reported that the Thursday launch, its first substantive affront since Biden came to office, was a test of a new “tactical guided projectile” with a solid-fuel engine. A U.N. sanctions committee focused on nuclear-armed North Korea has asked its experts to investigate the test and European members of the Security Council have requested an urgent meeting to discuss North Korea. The North is already under multiple sets of international sanctions for its banned nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. The White House, which said its North Korea policy review was in the “final stages,” declined to comment.

'The Biden administration is taking people who are testing positive for COVID-19 and locking them in cages side by side. The White House has said media will be allowed facilities being run by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol but has not said when. The 19 Republican Senators on Tour Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. 18 Senators are here with Border Patrol on their night shift. 'If there's one thing Ted Cruz knows how to do, it is to disingenuously grandstand for TV cameras.

The captured image shows Sam Park, a Georgia state representative, speaking in a worldwide vigil held in Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday, to honor the victims of deadly shootings at three Atlanta spas. (Yonhap)Thousands join worldwide vigil to honor victims of Atlanta shootingsOver 2,000 people in the United States and from around the world have taken part in a vigil to honor the victims of recent shootings in Atlanta that left eight people dead, six of them women of Asian descent. The vigil was held in Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday, and was also streamed live for people taking part virtually. The solemn event came in the wake of deadly shootings at three day spas in the Atlanta area early last week. South Korea's ambassador to the United States, Lee Soo-hyuck, offered his condolences to the victims and their families, along with a pledge to fight against anti-Asian hate.

After Trump Failed, Georgia Republicans Pass Bill to Make It Easier to Overturn Elections. “It will make what we all lived through in 2020 child’s play.”

Georgia's far-reaching voting bill signed into law Thursday is sparking fury among Democrats and voting rights activists who see the legislation as a thinly veiled effort by Republicans to rewrite the state’s election laws after a spate of GOP losses in recent months. New York Attorney General Letitia James said that her office was looking into potential legal action around the new voting law. “Attacks against the right to vote continue to threaten our democracy, and the voting restrictions passed in Georgia are deeply troubling. On Thursday, James Mangold, the director of films including “Walk the Line” and “Ford vs. Ferrari,” announced on Twitter that he would no longer direct films in Georgia because of the new voting law. Georgia isn’t the only state where GOP lawmakers are seeking to overhaul their election laws.

Fears that a conservative U.S. Supreme Court would inspire a wave of anti-abortion legislation across the country appear to have been warranted, a study of state-level bills introduced this year suggests. According to a report the Planned Parenthood Federation of America released Friday, legislation limiting abortion in 2021 has skyrocketed in comparison to a similar time frame in 2019. Wyoming is another state that made Republican gains in the legislature and introduced a wide slate of anti-abortion bills. Hutchinson said explicitly last Sunday that he signed the bill with his eye on a Supreme Court battle. It is not constitutional under Supreme Court cases right now,” he said on CNN.

Mr Wallace otherwise said that Mr Biden had been “empathetic”, held himself well, and understood and had control of his brief, though delivered his answers slowly. Overall he too felt that Mr Biden did “fine”. Among Trump White House staffers watching, former press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tweeted: “Right out of the gate, the White House press corps stands for President Biden.”She continued: “Would have been nice if they would have routinely shown that level of respect for President Trump. He described a response Mr Biden gave as a “monstrous lie”, which won praise from Ms McEnany, but led one Twitter user to respond “‘Monstrous’. Mr Miller himself joked that Vice President Kamala Harris chuckled when the president said he was running again in 2024.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images; John Lamparski/Getty ImagesDozens of tech leaders signed a letter opposing a Republican-led effort to recall California's governor. Dozens of the tech industry's top brass have signed a letter opposing a recall election effort designed to drive California Gov. Conway told Politico that the recall effort is "the last thing our state needs right now." The letter also asks residents to publicly oppose the "well-funded, politically motivated recall effort against Governor Gavin Newsom" that threatens to impede upon that success. Newsom has since admitted that he made missteps in his handling of the pandemic but said the recall effort has more to do with politics than anything else.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council North Korea sanctions committee is due to meet on Friday, at the request of the United States, over Pyongyang's launch of two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea near Japan, a spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the United Nations said. Attempts by the Biden administration to reach out to North Korea have so far been rebuffed, according to U.S. officials. Earlier on Thursday, Biden said the United States remained open to diplomacy with North Korea in spite of its missile tests this week, but warned there would be responses if North Korea escalates matters. In contrast, the United States asked for Friday's meeting of the sanctions committee, comprised of lower-level diplomats from the 15 council members, to discuss the latest launches. Since 2006 North Korea has been subjected to U.N. sanctions, which the Security Council has strengthened over the years in an effort to target funding for Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

(REUTERS)Several House Democrats hope to block the US Postal Service from slowing delivery times to force the nation’s mail agency to commit to its current service expectations as Postmaster General Louis DeJoy proposes sweeping cuts. They’re calling it the Delivering Envelopes Judiciously On-time Year-round Act, or DEJOY Act, named after current mail chief – who has proposed doing the opposite. Story continuesToday, in response to Postmaster General DeJoy’s recent 10-year plan for the USPS, I’ve introduced the Delivering Envelopes Judiciously On-time Year-round Act or the DEJOY Act. We will not allow Trump's handpicked Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to slow down mail delivery, cut hours at post offices and sabotage the Postal Service. Read More‘Fire this corrupt man’: USPS chief Louis DeJoy unveils mail rollbacks as Democrats demand his removal

Is special counsel John Durham still punching the clock? The former president said he’s wondering where the man tasked with digging into the origins of the FBI’s “Crossfire Hurricane” Russia probe is these days. Will there ever be a Durham report?” Trump said Friday night in the latest update from his 45 Office email account. Fox News reports Durham has been probing the matter for about two years and was officially appointed a “special counsel” by former Attorney General Barr last October. As the Herald reported, Special Counsel Robert Mueller said in May of 2019 that charging the president was “not an option.” He then announced his resignation.

U.S. President Joe Biden has invited his counterparts Xi Jinping of China and Russia’s Vladimir Putin to a virtual climate summit he is hosting in April, the White House announced on Friday. “They know they’re invited,” Biden said of Xi and Putin. Joe Biden | AFP-JIJIBiden kept his campaign pledge to rejoin the Paris climate agreement on his first day in the White House, after Trump pulled out of the deal. “The Summit will also highlight examples of how enhanced climate ambition will create good paying jobs, advance innovative technologies, and help vulnerable countries adapt to climate impacts,” the White House said in a statement. Biden dispatched his climate envoy, former secretary of state John Kerry, to prepare the ground for the summit in meetings with European leaders earlier this month.

Texas Republican Rep. Ronny Jackson, a former White House physician, believes President Biden's press conference performance Thursday raises questions about his fitness for office. The Texas congressman said Friday that Biden's behavior at his first solo press conference 'should concern every American who wants to know that their president is fit for duty and in control,' Fox News reported. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki avoided questions about whether the president was examined by a doctor afterward. Jackson said Biden's performance should concern every American who wants to know that their president is fit for duty and in control.' Jackson, who achieved the rank of Rear Admiral, told CNN he rejected 'any allegation that I consumed alcohol while on duty.'

“Look, they went in — they shouldn’t have done it — some of them went in, and they’re hugging and kissing the police and the guards, you know? A lot of the people were waved in, and then they walked in, and they walked out.”ADAccounts from that day immediately shatter Trump’s attempt at revisionist history. Many officers suffered concussions and other bodily injuries from being beaten with flagpoles, sprayed with bear spray, punched, dragged and trampled. More than 300 people have been charged since the attack that resulted in five deaths and 130 police assaults. ADTrump is not the only Republican to downplay the severity of the Jan. 6 attack.

A federal appeals court on Friday ruled that a mother-son duo who face charges in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot may be eligible for a pretrial release, arguing that they do not pose a continued danger to the public. While Democratic appointees Wilkins and Judge Judith Rogers stopped short of ordering the release of the mother and son, Trump appointee Judge Gregory Katsas argued in his partially dissenting opinion that the lower court decision blocking the release of the two rioters should be immediately reversed. In court filings, prosecutors argued that Munchel and Eisenhart took the plastic zip ties off a table inside the Capitol building to prevent police officers from restraining rioters. Quoting Washington, Lamberth wrote, "The very idea of the power of and the right of the people to establish government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established government." "Indeed, few offenses are more threatening to our way of life," Lamberth added.

Deputized to “fix” the migrant surge crisis, Vice President Kamala Harris has no plans to visit the US-Mexico border — but Donald Trump may go there “soon,” according to an aide to the former president. “The vice president is not doing the border,” spokeswoman Symone Sanders told reporters Friday. Donald Trump tours a section of the US-Mexico border wall in Alamo, Texas, earlier in 2021. But it is something that president Trump is really concerned about,” Miller said. President Biden has warned migrants not to come, citing COVID-19 restrictions.

“These omissions help paint women athletes with a more one-dimensional, gender-bland brush,” the report found. (You might have seen that players recently found that the difference in facilities provided to men’s and women’s teams instructive, too.) At ESPN’s SportsCenter, the show dedicated more than 2 hours and 13 minutes to the men’s tournament (27 stories) and only 3 min and 43 seconds (just two stories) to the women’s tournament. “Absent the [Women’s World Cup] stories, in other words, the overall 2019 women’s sports TV airtime drops from 5.4% to 3.5%,” the study found. Nationalism can sometimes trump sexism, or even gendered racism in media coverage of women’s sports, but it does so only for a moment, its impact transitory and short-lived.

President Joe Biden seeks to work with Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose country is the world’s top emitter of climate-damaging pollution. The Biden administration intentionally looked beyond its international partners for the summit, reaching out to key leaders for what it said would sometimes be tough talks on climate matters, an administration official said. Another Biden administration official said the U.S. is still deciding how far the administration will go in setting a more ambitious U.S. emissions target. Climate scientists and climate policy experts largely welcomed Biden’s international overture on climate negotiations, especially the outreach to China. Biden and other administration officials have been stressing U.S. climate intentions during early one-on-one talks with foreign leaders, and Biden climate envoy John Kerry has focused on diplomacy abroad to galvanize climate efforts.

Deputized to “fix” the migrant surge crisis, Vice President Kamala Harris has no plans to visit the US-Mexico border — but Donald Trump may go there “soon,” according to an aide to the former president. “The vice president is not doing the border,” spokeswoman Symone Sanders told reporters Friday. Donald Trump tours a section of the US-Mexico border wall in Alamo, Texas, earlier in 2021. Federal agents apprehended more than 100,000 people at the border last month alone, the highest number in two years. President Biden has warned migrants not to come, citing COVID-19 restrictions.

LANSING, Mich. — The leader of Michigan’s Republican Party referred to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and two other top Democratic elected women as “witches” that the GOP wants to “soften up” for a “burning at the stake” in the 2022 election. Someone asked Weiser about “witches in our own party.”He said: “Ma’am, other than assassination, I have no other way other than voting out. The Michigan Democratic Party and two Democratic members of the university board said Weiser, a major donor to the school, should resign. Do better, Michigan GOP.”

The Security Council has been meeting virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic and email voting began after the North's missile launches on Thursday morning. All council members agreed that the panel of experts should investigate the two latest ballistic missile launches on Thursday morning, they said. The council has imposed increasingly tough sanctions on North Korea since its first test explosion of a nuclear device in 2006. “It displayed new short-range, medium-range, submarine-launched and intercontinental ballistic missile systems at military parades,” they said. “It announced preparation for testing and production of new ballistic missile warheads and, development of tactical nuclear weapons ... and upgraded its ballistic missile infrastructure.”

Redfield’s personal opinion is not in line with the prevailing scientific premise that the virus emerged either through animal-to-human transmission or shipment of frozen food products. “I still think the most likely etiology of this pathology in Wuhan was from a laboratory,” Redfield told CNN. A team compiled by the World Health Organization visited the central Chinese metropolis of Wuhan and is preparing a report on the virus’s potential source. The group has already said it does not consider a lab leak to be the most likely origin. That compilation of the report has been controversial, and China has faced accusations of a lack of transparency with international investigators.

As in 2019, Mexico relies heavily on highway checkpoints transiting its narrow southern isthmus to prevent migrants heading north. René Sop Xivir of Jesuit Immigrant Services at the southern border. “The whole town lives from crossing migrants — the smugglers, the restaurants, the hotels, everything,” said a Gracias a Dios resident, who requested anonymity to avoid reprisals. “A few days ago, in a half-hour … we saw hundreds walking along a mountain path.”Uncontrolled crossings dot Mexico’s southern border. In some, like La Mesilla, residents set up a street market on both sides of the border three days a week.

Joe Biden has invited 40 world leaders to a virtual summit on the climate crisis, the White House said in a statement on Friday. The president kept his campaign pledge to rejoin the Paris climate agreement on his first day in the White House, after Trump pulled out of the deal. “The summit will also highlight examples of how enhanced climate ambition will create good-paying jobs, advance innovative technologies, and help vulnerable countries adapt to climate impacts,” the White House said in a statement. Biden dispatched his climate envoy, the former secretary of state John Kerry, to prepare the ground for the summit in meetings with European leaders earlier this month. In an assessment of pledges made in recent months by around 75 countries and the European Union, UN Climate Change said that only about 30% of global emissions were covered in the commitments.

Live footage from the banks of the Rio Grande.#BidenBorderCrisis pic.twitter.com/aO4EyANrRQ — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 26, 2021ADVERTISEMENTIn another video, Cruz claims they “encountered human traffickers” and “cartel members,” across the Rio Grande. “That’s Mexico, and you can see there’s three smugglers right there, standing on the Mexico side, looking at us,” Cruz says in the video as blurred figures can be seen moving in the distance. “They’ve been shining their flashlights at us, they’re yelling at us,” Cruz adds. We encountered human traffickers & cartel members tonight, yelling at us across the Rio Grande and preparing to cross. https://t.co/IT7vQdldWy — Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) March 26, 2021The former congressman’s commentary comes as the Biden administration faces bipartisan pressure to address the surge in migrants, especially immigrant children, at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo: U.S. Now, the Biden administration has to figure out whether to continue the fight, or put an end to it. Raimondo says the start of the Biden administration marks a new chapter in the U.S. relationship with Beijing. "You cannot sugarcoat the damage that President Trump caused in alienating some of our allies," Raimondo says. The commerce secretary has spent her first weeks in office speaking with her counterparts in Europe, Canada and Mexico.

Europeans Fear Iran Nuclear Window ClosingIn the weeks after U.S. President Joe Biden’s inauguration in January, British, French, and German diplomats approached the new administration with a plan to revive the landmark 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Europeans have also been pressing Washington to reinstate waivers that permit foreign governments to participate in civil nuclear programs with Iran. The issue is that we trusted the Americans and fulfilled our commitments in the nuclear deal, but they didn’t,” he said. “It was never going to be easy,” said Mark Lyall Grant, who served previously as Britain’s national security advisor and led its Iran nuclear negotiations. The Biden administration acted as if all this harm inflicted on Iran was done by a different country.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Friday said she was maintaining the threat of U.S. tariffs on goods from Austria, Britain, India, Italy, Spain and Turkey in retaliation for their digital services taxes. FILE PHOTO: Katherine C. Tai addresses the Senate Finance committee hearings to examine her nomination to be United States Trade Representative, with the rank of ambassador, in Washington, DC February 25, 2021. The taxes target in-country revenues of digital services platforms, such as Facebook, Google, and Amazon.com. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced the decision despite Democratic President Joe Biden’s renewed commitments to pursue a global agreement on digital services taxes through the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). If they do adopt a digital services tax, USTR said it may open a new tariff probe.

As soon as Republican Governor Brian Kemp signed the law, voting rights activists vowed to challenge it. The Georgia legislation is one of more than 250 bills Republicans have filed proposing new voting limits across the country since Trump’s loss in November. It will allow the state election board the power to replace local county election boards and permit challenges to voting eligibility. Those days were restored after Democrats pushed back, and additional Saturday voting days also were included - provisions Republicans cited as examples of the law making voting more accessible. On Monday, Trump endorsed a challenger looking to defeat Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in the 2022 Republican primary.

Dominion Voting Systems on Friday morning filed a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News, alleging that the conservative network pushed false accusations that the voting company had rigged the 2020 election, in order to make a profit and boost ratings. "Fox sold a false story of election fraud in order to serve its own commercial purposes, severely injuring Dominion in the process," Dominion stated in its complaint. In its first suit filed against a media company, Dominion claims Fox News pushed the "outlandish, defamatory, and far-fetched" claims as part of an effort to "lure viewers back" after they fled to other networks because they saw Fox as "insufficiently supportive" of President Trump after his loss. Fox News moved to dismiss a Smartmatic lawsuit filed against them in February, claiming the suit was "meritless" and an attempt to "stifle debate and chill vital First Amendment activities." "It was wrong for us to publish these false statements.

Former President Trump is applauding a Republican-led election reform bill in Georgia, a state he narrowly lost in November in a defeat he falsely chalked up to voter fraud. “Congratulations to Georgia and the Georgia State Legislature on changing their voter Rules and Regulations,” Trump said in a statement through his PAC Save America, The Hill reported. Too bad these changes could not have been done sooner!”The election overhaul bill was signed into law Thursday. The Georgia election bill was signed into law this Thursday. Kimberly Latrice Jones speaks during a gathering outside of the Georgia State Capitol to protest HB 531 on March 4, 2021.

“Among the outrageous parts of this new state law, it ends voting hours early so working people can’t cast their vote after their shift is over,” Biden said of the Georgia statute. But some civil rights activists argued that Biden is not doing enough beyond his impassioned rhetoric to ensure the passage of a federal voting protection law. ADThe new Georgia law has several components: It allows state lawmakers to initiate takeovers of local election boards while stripping power from the secretary of state. The House recently passed a sweeping voting rights bill, but it has foundered in the Senate. It’s urgent that we get it passed.”The White House said Friday that Biden plans to communicate with lawmakers and advocates to press for voting rights legislation.

Fox News Senior Strategic Analyst Gen. Jack Keane joined "Fox News Primetime" to discuss the origin of COVID-19, saying he "accepts [the] conclusion on the face of it" that the virus may have originated in a Wuhan lab. GEN. JACK KEANE: We have had the Trump Administration for some time, and particularly Secretary Pompeo, conveying to the American public that the circumstantial evidence is overwhelming that likely the originator of the so-called coronavirus originated in a Wuhan laboratory. And the Wuhan laboratory is one of 75 that we know, that, that, what takes place in that laboratory is also the development of biotechnical weapons, and also the potential from animal to human transfer of viruses. So, certainly what the evidence is supporting, is that some kind of accident took place there in a transfer to likely a human being working in that laboratory. WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE

Special Counsel John Durham’s investigation is largely focused on the activities of the FBI as he reviews the origins of the Trump-Russia probe, Fox News has learned, but sources familiar with the investigation said the prosecution of high-level FBI officials, like former Director James Comey, is "unlikely." A spokesperson for the special counsel told Fox News that they had "no comment from Mr. Clinesmith in August pleaded guilty to making a false statement to Durham’s team. Also over the summer, Durham's team questioned former CIA Director John Brennan for some eight hours at CIA headquarters. "I think that is fine, I have no problems with it," Brennan said, adding that he has already sat down with Durham's team for eight hours.

While the president claims that private-sector investors are ransacking Mexico’s energy riches, some critics say that all he has achieved is to stall power generation projects that would actually help Mexico cut gas purchases from north of the border. This month, the president managed to pass a bill that gives CFE priority over solar and wind plants when selling electricity on the grid. His government has sought to favor the state utility in the power market even before this month’s contentious bill. About 200 energy projects have been stalled, while competitive bidding rounds for new energy investments have been suspended. The move was bound to have serious implications to Mexico, as Javier Lopez Ramos, the chief executive officer of Pemex’s gas-trading unit, pointed out in a letter to the Texas energy regulator that same day.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. will take steps to more quickly move hundreds of migrant children and teens out of cramped detention facilities along the Southwest border, President Joe Biden said Thursday. The number of migrants attempting to cross the border is at the highest level since a spring 2019 surge under Trump, according to the most recently released statistics. The number of migrants encountered by authorities along the Southwest border has been rising since April, shortly after the Trump administration imposed a public health order authorizing Customs and Border Protection to quickly expel most people. More than 100,000 migrants were stopped crossing the border in February, the most recent statistics publicly available. Biden says it is working with the Mexican government to take more of them and to shore up its own border.

Gretchen Whitmer and two other Democrat office holders were referred to as “witches” by the state’s Republican leader. Ron Weiser, the Michigan Republican Party Chairman, also made a reference to “assassination” during a discussion in front of a Republican club, shown in a video published by the Detroit News. Weiser responded by saying he is “focused on the three witches,” presumably Whitmer, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel. Witches who magically decrease Covid spread, increase voter turnout and hold sexual predators accountable without any help from the legislature? Televised executions were part of the plot to kidnap Michigan governor, officials saySupporters rally behind jailed bistro owner accused of defying COVID rules in Michigan

Democrats are vowing action on several of their top priorities in April, including strengthening hate crime laws to include Asian Americans and restoring voting rights protections to combat minority voter suppression. It would seek to restore elements of the Voting Rights Act that were struck down by the Supreme Court in 2013, a decision that Democrats say left minority voters vulnerable to disenfranchisement. Democrats see it as a forceful response to voting rights restrictions advancing in Republican-controlled statehouses across the country. Republicans are strongly opposed to the voting rights bill, arguing that it would tilt elections toward Democrats and take control of elections away from the states. While strengthening background checks is broadly popular among the American public, Senate Republicans have said they oppose the two House bills.

“I still think the most likely etiology of this pathology in Wuhan was from a laboratory,” Redfield told CNN. A team compiled by the World Health Organization visited the central Chinese metropolis of Wuhan and is preparing a report on the virus’s potential source. The group has already said it does not consider a lab leak to be the most likely origin. That compilation of the report has been controversial, and China has faced accusations of a lack of transparency with international investigators. Redfield told CNN he was expressing “only opinion” as he cast doubt on the notion that “one of the most infectious viruses that we know in humanity” went from a bat to a human.

'How can we trust Kamala Harris to deal with the border crisis when she compared ICE to the KKK in 2018?' The vice president was put in charge of addressing the administration's response, it was announced Wednesday. Secondly the vice president wants to strengthen relationships with Mexico and Central American countries. 'I have been informed that Vice President Kamala Harris has been put in charge of border security,' said Ducey, whose state has 370 miles of border with Mexico. He referenced her previous comparison between the KKK and ICE, and her promise that children would not be kept 'in cages'.

FILE PHOTO: Police clear the U.S. Capitol Building with tear gas as supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather outside, in Washington, U.S. January 6, 2021. REUTERS/Stephanie KeithIn addition, a federal appeals court ordered a review of the pretrial detention of two others charged in the riot in another setback for prosecutors. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ordered that Kelly Meggs, described by prosecutors as a self-described leader of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers, to be detained. Kelly Meggs, Connie Meggs and Crowl joined groups of people dressed in military-style gear such as helmets, goggles and protective vests before entering the Capitol, according to authorities. Eisenhart and Munchel entered the Senate chamber wearing military-style fatigues, with Munchel carrying multiple pairs of plastic handcuffs, according to authorities.

Several House Democrats hope to block the US Postal Service from slowing delivery times to force the nation’s mail agency to commit to its current service expectations as Postmaster General Louis DeJoy proposes sweeping cuts. They’re calling it the Delivering Envelopes Judiciously On-time Year-round Act, or DEJOY Act, named after current mail chief – who has proposed doing the opposite. US Rep Raja Krishnamoorthi said his proposed legislation would “ensure that the USPS maintains the 2-3-day standard delivery option”. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent.

ADAD“In the service of an orderly transition to a new model for the [Homeland Security Advisory Council] , I have ended the term of current HSAC members,” Mayorkas wrote in a letter Friday obtained by The Washington Post. The Trump administration typically allowed the terms of board members to lapse before replacing them. “It’s an absolute shame that Secretary Mayorkas has removed these well-respected homeland security leaders who have dedicated their careers to strengthening our homeland security posture.”Bratton, who remains the chairman of the council, said it is common for new leaders to appoint fresh advisers. Bratton said some members of the DHS council brought “phenomenal” expertise to the job and may be asked to return. ADOne of those ousted was Jay Ahern, who was an acting CBP commissioner during the Obama administration and was appointed to the council during the Trump administration.

The new law removes the secretary of state from serving as chair of the State Board of Elections, giving the legislature the authority to appoint a majority of the members, and authorizes the state board to suspend local election officials. In a phone call on Jan. 2, President Trump insisted he won the state and threatened vague legal consequences. His efforts were blocked not only by dozens of judges but also by local and state election officials — including Republicans — who repeatedly refused to bow to pressure to halt the certification of the vote. The new law also gives the state elections board the power to suspend local election officials for violations of election rules or mismanagement and appoint a temporary superintendent. Democrats argued that giving the legislature the power to control the state board — which has oversight over the elections of the legislators themselves — creates a clear conflict of interest.

Why it matters: It's a move opponents say will enable service providers to discriminate against patients, including LGBTQ people and others, AP writes. Details: The provision, which won't take effect until this summer, gives providers "the right to not participate in non-emergency treatments that violate their conscience." Worth noting: The Trump administration issued a similar rule in May 2019, allowing health care workers to refuse to provide operations like abortion, sterilization or assisted suicide, according to NPR. What they're saying: "I support this right of conscience so long as emergency care is exempted and conscience objection cannot be used to deny general health service to any class of people," Hutchinson said in a statement. The big picture: LGBTQ people already face discrimination in health care and are often likely to skip routine care, per the Center for American Progress.

“Right from the start, it was zero threat,” Trump said of the Capitol. By itself, this is a problematic position for a former president to hold, much less to espouse publicly. Shortly before Trump’s interview with Ingraham, for example, Fox News host Tucker Carlson welcomed the far-right personality Jesse Kelly. The two were discussing a Politico report about President Biden’s son Hunter involving his purchase of a gun in 2018. Any nuance or uncertainty about the incident was swept aside when Carlson and Kelly were talking.

"The View" co-host Meghan McCain blasted the media Friday over its coverage of President Biden's first formal press conference. "I just want to present a scenario where somehow magically President Trump got re-elected. he didn't do a press conference. "Peter Doocy, was not called on, Fox News wasn't called on, which I think is a huge miss for President Biden yesterday." Even Drudge Report founder Matt Drudge trumpeted Biden's performance on his website with headlines like, "JOE'S NO DRAMA PRESS CONFERENCE" and "CHILL STYLE."

Donald Trump mockingly wondered if Special Counsel John Durham is still alive, as the prosecutor's probe drags on into the origins of the FBI’s "Crossfire Hurricane" investigation of his 2016 campaign's alleged ties to Russia. Durham has been probing the matter for about two years and was officially appointed a "special counsel" by former Attorney General Barr last October. Will there ever be a Durham report?" Special Counsel Robert Mueller found insufficient evidence to prove collusion between members of the Trump 2016 campaign and Russia. Durham stepped down from his post as U.S. attorney for Connecticut but retained his status as special counsel for purposes of his "RussiaGate" probe.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City plans to deploy an all-Asian undercover police team and expand community outreach in more than 200 languages to combat a rise in hate crimes against Asians, authorities said on Thursday. Slideshow ( 5 images )“If you are going to commit a hate crime in New York City, we will find you,” New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said in unveiling the two-pronged plan to fight bias crimes. Just days after a spate of assaults on Asian-Americans in New York City last weekend, Shea said he was ramping up the NYPD’s undercover force with plain-clothed officers, all of them of Asian descent. Advocates tied the surge in hate crimes to blame that has been placed on the Asian-American Pacific Islander community for the coronavirus spread. Hate crimes against Asian Americans rose by 149% in 2020 in 16 major cities compared with 2019, according to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism.

(Reuters) -Georgia’s sweeping new voting restrictions came under attack on Friday, with civil rights groups challenging them in court and President Joe Biden saying the U.S. Justice Department was examining what he called an “atrocity” of a law. Biden, the first Democratic presidential candidate in three decades to win Georgia, on Friday accused Republicans there and in other states of mounting a broad assault on voting rights. FILE PHOTO: Protesters gather outside of the Georgia State Capitol to protest HB 531, which would place tougher restrictions on voting in Georgia, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. March 4, 2021. As he contested his national loss to Biden, Trump focused much of his energy in Georgia. That phone call is part of a criminal investigation by state prosecutors into whether Trump broke election laws by pressuring officials to alter the results.

By David Shepardson and Karen FreifeldWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Biden administration said Friday it wants new public input on establishing licensing or other procedures to help companies comply with a sweeping new rule targeting Chinese technology firms. On Monday, the U.S. Commerce Department allowed a regulation issued under then President Donald Trump in January to take effect over objections from U.S. business groups. "It has become apparent additional public input is needed," the Commerce Department said Friday, adding it "is seeking input into several aspects of a potential voluntary licensing or pre-clearance process." "It’s extremely broad and that’s what makes it very scary for any type of internet or communications technology company." Last week, the Commerce Department disclosed it served subpoenas on multiple Chinese companies that provide ICTS services in the United States to see if they pose national security risks.

France’s foreign minister has said the EU will not be “blackmailed” by the UK on Covid vaccines. 09:00 AMUK 'not that dependent' on EU for vaccine supplies, says expertThe UK is "not that dependent on the EU" for vaccine supplies, senior lecturer in supply chain management has said. "If Beijing want to credibly rebut claims of human rights abuses in Xinjiang, it should allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights full access to verify the truth." If Beijing want to credibly rebut claims of human rights abuses in Xinjiang, it should give ?@UNHumanRights? access to verify facts. It’s our duty to call out the Chinese Govt’s human rights abuse in #HongKong & the genocide of the #Uyghurs.

Sustainable investing incorporates so-called Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) principles into financial decisions; for example, how a corporation treats employees or what it’s doing to reduce pollution. He went on to be a principal at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board before joining BlackRock in 2018 as CIO of sustainable investment. The statement continued: “In the last year, BlackRock has clearly stated that climate risk is investment risk and articulated the investment implications of other sustainability factors. While at BlackRock, Mr Fancy said he believed that the environmental impact of green investing was overblown but “harmless and aspirational”. In his 2021 letter to CEOs, he upped the ante by issuing a stark warning that “climate risk is investment risk”, and dubbed the climate transition “a historic investment opportunity”.

A Chicago hospital executive has resigned after it was revealed he offered early vaccines 72 employees at Trump Tower where he owns a $2.7 million condo. Ahmed had previously bragged about vaccinating Eric Trump on the same day he vaccinated the Trump Tower workers before later claiming that it was a joke, the outlet revealed. DailyMail.com has reached out to the Trump Organization, which owns the tower, for more information and additional comment about the vaccination of its employees. Loretto Hospital's statement said Miller authorized the vaccinations and that the Trump employees, who were 'predominantly black and brown,' had requested the vaccination event, according to the Washington Post. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has called for an independent investigation at Loretto Hospital and said she was 'disappointed' that people had been given the coronavirus vaccine early.

AdvertisementA small Texas border town has become the new epicenter of a surge in illegal entry into the U.S., with smugglers there brazenly ferrying hundreds of migrants across the Rio Grande every night. Roma, a town with historic buildings and boarded-up storefronts in Texas' Rio Grande Valley, is the latest epicenter of illegal crossings, where growing numbers of families and children are entering the United States to seek asylum. Each night as darkness sets on the Rio Grande, U.S. Border Patrol agents hear pumps inflating rafts across the river in Mexico. The Rio Grande runs between Roma, Texas, right, and Ciudad Miguel Aleman in Tamaulipas, Mexico. They're about 2,200 of the roughly 5,000 people encountered per day in March, according to the Border Patrol official.

The Republican-backed law, signed by Gov. Brian Kemp Brian KempThe Hill's Morning Report - Biden shifts on filibuster Liberals think Biden just made getting rid of the filibuster easier Warnock visits Georgia state Rep. Cannon at jail after arrest: 'She did not deserve this' MORE (R) on Thursday evening, includes a range of new restrictions on voting — such as limits on the use of ballot drop boxes and photo identification requirements for absentee voting — and comes after the GOP endured significant defeats in the 2020 election and January Senate runoffs. “Congratulations to Georgia and the Georgia State Legislature on changing their voter Rules and Regulations,” Trump said in a statement through his political action committee Save America. “They learned from the travesty of the 2020 Presidential Election, which can never be allowed to happen again. Too bad these changes could not have been done sooner!”But Democrats argue it targets the Black voters who turned out in force last fall and again in January to support their party's candidates.

In a memo to reporters, the Associated Press claims the current US-Mexico border crisis "does not fit the classic dictionary definition of a crisis." The White House still won’t use the word “crisis” in referring to the surge of migrants at the US-Mexico border — and now the Associated Press won’t use the word either. The Washington Post singled out the AP for its language in describing the border crisis. Meanwhile, border control veterans are calling the situation a crisis, even if Biden and his administration do not. On Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris admitted that there is a “huge problem” on the southern border, but she did not use the word “crisis” either.

“Tiger King” star Joe Exotic’s husband Dillon Passage is leaving him, per Passage’s Instagram and a statement Exotic’s lawyer made to TMZ. “To answer the main question the public wants to know, yes, Joe and I are seeking a divorce,” Passage wrote on Instagram Friday evening. “The way Joe explained it, Dillon’s getting lonely with Joe locked up and wants a boyfriend.”Devoted “Tiger King” fans will remember that Exotic, 58, and Passage married in December 2017, two months after Joe’s previous husband, Travis Maldonado, died in a self-inflicted, accidental shooting. “In November of 2017, I met Joe who was there for me during a difficult time in my life,” Passage wrote on Instagram. “When Tiger King was released on Netflix a year ago, my life was thrown into a world of media and public attention,” he continued.

The political scientist Charles Murray once wrote, “When we know the complete genetic story, it will turn out that the population below the poverty line in the United States has a configuration of the relevant genetic makeup that is significantly different from the configuration of the population above the poverty line.” In short, poverty is abnormal — outside the American mainstream. In research I’ve conducted using a large nationally representative sample, 59 percent of Americans will spend at least one year below the official poverty line between the ages of 20 and 75. That number rises to 76 percent if it includes people who are near the poverty line. Social surveys asking Americans about the causes of poverty have consistently found that they tend to rank these individual shortcomings as most important. Furthermore, instead of protecting people from falling into poverty, our social policies are designed to punish people who experience poverty.

In the November 2020 elections, the GOP failed to field candidates in contests for D.C. delegate, and Ward 2, Ward 4 and Ward 7 council seats. ADBlack people once formed a strong base of the Republican Party. The freeing of the enslaved by the first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln, had something to do with it. Once returned to power, Southern Democratic state governments suppressed Black political rights — despicable actions that were aided and abetted by violence after dark. window shade on which he had copied the party symbol of the Democratic Party of the State of Alabama.

Welcome to 2021, where Republicans have embarked on a national effort to suppress the vote at all costs. And, not to avoid the obvious, to suppress Black votes, because those ballots would not be cast to Republican advantage. Alice O’Lenick, chairwoman of the Gwinnett County election board, didn’t mince words about the need to tighten up voting rules in Georgia. “Politics is a zero-sum game, and every extra vote they get through unlawful interpretations of [the Voting Rights Act] hurts us.”A shot at winning. The new Georgia law stands as Exhibit A in the 2021 campaign to curtail voting rights but will not be the year’s last.

Drudge Report founder Matt Drudge showered President Biden with praise following his first formal press conference Thursday. "JOE'S NO DRAMA PRESS CONFERENCE" the top headline read. NBC REPORTER PRAISES BIDEN FOR 'KNOCKING' PRESSER 'OUT OF THE PARK,' THEN ADMITS HE LOOKS 'TIRED'The Daily Wire's Ben Shapiro reacted, "Drudge Report is now indistinguishable from Huffington Post." CBN chief political analyst David Brody blasted the display, insisting the Drudge Report should be called "The Amazing Joe Biden Report." @JoeBiden looked lost, confused and needed scripted notes for his press conference," Brody tweeted.

Such a takeover potentially would allow al Qaeda to rebuild in Afghanistan, the New York Times reported, quoting anonymous U.S. officials. Some U.S. officials who favor keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan are using the intelligence report to argue that the soldiers should remain beyond the deadline, the Times said. The classified intelligence assessment was prepared last year for the Trump administration, the Times said. At the same time, Biden said he “could not picture” U.S. troops being in the country next year. The Taliban on Friday said it would resume hostilities against foreign forces - which ended under the U.S.-Taliban deal - if they remain beyond the deadline.

“The elder has the perspective of history,” Russell Riley, the co-chair of the presidential oral history program at the University of Virginia, told me. “The challenges that he faces are daunting, and big challenges make big moments for ambitious presidents, and I think he is visionary enough to seize the moment,” presidential historian Mark Updegrove said. Of the 10 Biden called on, as compiled by my colleague Theodoric Meyer, half of them asked about immigration. When Biden talks about labor, you could close your eyes and picture a New Dealer,” he said. “Biden knows,” Engel concluded, “that there’s only two or three moments in life that actually really matter for making a structural difference.

In our most recent NPR Politics Podcast book club installment we talked with Lilliana Mason, associate professor of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland, about her book on America's political animosity, Uncivil Agreement: How Politics Became Our Identity. Now American partisan politics is arranged so that we have regular competitions for status. And America, as a country, has never really dealt very well with our legacy of racial violence and prejudice. And I'm working on a new book project right now looking at partisan violence in American politics. Join the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group to participate in our next book club discussion.

(Getty Images)Republican Congressional candidate Big Dan Rodimer is suffering online ridicule after completely changing his persona to run for office in Texas after losing a race in Nevada. Story continueswho is the REAL big dan rodimer?? Mr Rodimer now appears to be presenting a different side of his persona, wearing a cowboy hat and riding a bull. As the bull throws Mr Rodimer off its back, a bystander says "We call that bull Nancy Pelosi. Mr Rodimer goes on to bring up several culture war issues motivating social conservatives, bashing transgender rights and claiming that the border is not being protected.

By Katanga JohnsonWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats on Friday introduced a resolution to rescind a rule they say curbs shareholder voting rights, their second move aimed at unraveling business regulations introduced by former President Donald Trump's administration. Last year's changes to the SEC rule on shareholder proposals made it much harder for working families and investors to hold corporate management accountable," said Brown in a statement to Reuters. It is designed to dramatically curtail shareholder rights and discriminates against retail investors," she said. Friday's move followed an earlier resolution introduced by Democrats on Thursday to reverse another Trump-era rule which consumer groups said allows predatory lenders to evade state interest rate caps. "The Trump-Era True Lender Rule discouraged these state-set caps, and it's time we repeal the harmful rule and enable states to put a stop to predatory lending."

But Collins, who was elected in 2018, did not resign from her position as some community leaders had called for. It came after a parent group attempting to recall three board’s members, including Collins, unearthed the series of tweets she published in December 2016. Being a house n****r is still being a n****r. You’re still considered “the help.” 30 REASONS TO RECALL THE SF SCHOOL BOARD 19. And that is the pain our Asian American brothers and sisters and siblings are experiencing,” Collins wrote. pic.twitter.com/fWCrsE5nhK — Connie Chan ??? (@conniechansf) March 20, 2021 The San Francisco school board has been a lightning rod for controversy, particularly over the last few months.

The president is seeking to revive a U.S.-convened forum of the world’s major economies on climate that George W. Bush and Barack Obama both used and Donald Trump let languish. The Biden administration intentionally looked beyond its international partners for the summit, reaching out to key leaders for what it said would sometimes be tough talks on climate matters, an administration official said. Another Biden administration official said the U.S. is still deciding how far the administration will go in setting a more ambitious U.S. emissions target. Climate scientists and climate policy experts largely welcomed Biden’s international overture on climate negotiations, especially the outreach to China. Biden and other administration officials have been stressing U.S. climate intentions during early one-on-one talks with foreign leaders, and Biden climate envoy John Kerry has focused on diplomacy abroad to galvanize climate efforts.

Housing prices leaveSJSU students in bindAs a 21-year-old college student attending San Jose State University, I am very concerned about the housing situation for students. I consider myself fortunate because many San Jose State students are actually homeless. I feel as if once the restrictions are eased, then the public loses the sense of caution that came with the harsher restrictions. The United States has evolved to a point where the states do not have to fear a military incursion by the federal government. It should be repealed and a new amendment written to bring our gun laws into the 21st century.

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The proposed Rosemont Mine in Arizona has passed one federal regulatory hurdle after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decided that the project no longer needs a Clean Water Act permit. The federal agency said Wednesday that the mine is not covered by the Clean Water Act because of Trump administration changes to federal rules that govern which streams receive regulatory control. The decision still does not permit the mine to be built. Other legal hurdles remain before the $2 billion project can begin southeast of Tucson, the Arizona Daily Star reportedThe ruling overturns previous determinations by the agency, mostly about a decade ago, that it had the authority to regulate mine discharges under the Clean Water Act. Hudbay Minerals, which had previously asked the Corps to remove jurisdiction from the mine site, supported the decision.

And frankly, you do it less and you can do it better," Mr Trump said. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Mr Trump also took a parting swipe at his soon-to-be social media competitor, saying people are leaving after the platform became boring in his absence. "It's become very, very boring and I've heard it from so many different people," Mr Trump said.

Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Mr Rodimer now appears to be presenting a different side of his persona, wearing a cowboy hat and riding a bull. As the bull throws Mr Rodimer off its back, a bystander says "We call that bull Nancy Pelosi. Mr Rodimer goes on to bring up several culture war issues motivating social conservatives, bashing transgender rights and claiming that the border is not being protected.

They ended up taking seven boxes of my documents and scanning them, going through them," Ms Weisselberg told Business Insider. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. However, Ms Weisselberg said Mr Weisselberg is unlikely to flip. She described him as being obsessed with how Mr Trump viewed him, and said he cherished the time he spent with the former president.

The Tiger King didn’t just lose his best chance at freedom when Donald Trump’s hotly-anticipated pardon never came, he lost his marriage. Husband Dillon Passage confirmed in a series of Instagram posts on Friday that he was filing for divorce from the Netflix star. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the News newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the News newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “It’s something that neither of us were expecting but we are going to take it day by day.

Tiger King's Joe Exotic and husband Dillon Passage are divorcing after over three-years of marriage. Though the former owner of the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park appears upset about the split, Dillon says that there are no hard feelings and he will still support Joe through his prison sentence. Passage reportedly wants to split with Joe because he's grown lonely during his husband's time behind bars and would like to date again. 'Joe is obviously having a difficult time in prison and I don't think any of us can fault him for that. Dillon and Joe tied the knot in December of 2017, just two months after Travis died at 23-years-old of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound.

This week on the podcast:— The leaders of Russia and Turkey meet in Moscow on Thursday in a bid to de-escalate fighting in Syria which has brought the two countries to the brink of direct military confrontation. Financial Times Bureau Chief Henry Foy joins us in the studio to discuss what is at stake for both countries. The episode was recorded and edited at CM Records Studio in central Moscow. Read More:Russia’s Syria gamble under pressure as Turkey attacks in IdlibHawks say Sanders will be weak on Russia. But Putin should fear a President Bernie

Republican senators on Friday released shocking pictures of migrants and children packed into border facilities as they railed against what they called a border crisis of President Biden’s own creation. GOP SENATORS ENCOUNTER TRAFFICKERS, CARTEL MEMBERS AT BORDER DURING NIGHTTIME RIO GRANDE TOURThe 19-person delegation, led by Sens. Cruz and John Cornyn, R-Texas, toured a facility in Donna, where migrants have been packed into facilities designed for many fewer migrants. Senators who spoke to Border Patrol and other officials said that authorities were "overwhelmed" by the numbers -- something that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has also said. Customs and Border Protection encountered 100,000 migrants in February, while there are more than 16,000 child migrants in Border Patrol and Health and Human Services custody.

As he did, Georgia State Patrol troopers were dragging away State Representative Park Cannon, who was arrested and charged with two felonies for knocking on the door to the governor’s office as he approved the voter suppression legislation. “I am not the first Georgian to be arrested for fighting voter suppression,” Cannon wrote after being released from jail Thursday night. We saw democracy physically assaulted on January 6,” Democratic attorney Marc Elias said in an interview with Rachel Maddow Thursday. For the sake of democracy, Democrats must show the same level of resolve in fighting back. — Leak of Bombshell CBS Investigation Led to Multimillion-Dollar Settlement— From the Archive: The Day Before Tragedy— Not a subscriber?

Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz seem to have taken some pages out of Angeline Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton's relationship handbook. But in lieu of wearing vials of each other's blood around their necks, the engaged couple have instead opted for the slightly less squeamish choice of gold-plated wisdom teeth. This prompted Peltz to re-post his Stories in turn, creating an ouroboros of content and mutual praise, writing, “My forever boy. After getting Peltz's eyes tattooed across the back of his neck, Beckham added a large, handwritten letter from her along his shoulders. But Beckham isn't the only one in the relationship professing their love via permanent body modification.

By the time Lil Nas X released the remix to “Old Town Road” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus in April 2019, it was clear that the rapper behind the phenomenon wasn’t simply a burgeoning pop star, he was a multi-platform experience. The video, directed by Ukrainian photographer Tanu Muino, who has also worked with Cardi B and Katy Perry, shows the psychedelic journey of a suite of characters, mainly played by Lil Nas himself, from a Garden of Eden-esque paradise to the underworld, all rendered with visual effects. Lil Nas X, whose given name is Montero Lamar Hill, also released a message to his 14-year-old self that connected the lyrical subject matter to his own sexuality. “I know we promised to never come out publicly,” he wrote in a Tweet. Lil Nas X is a perfect avatar for a moment that mixes earnest individual expression with referential pastiche, all mediated by technology.

Thanks to a curious British kid, the world has confirmation that Saturday Night Live’s Pete Davidson and Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor have held hands at least once. Wagg, a regular Harriet the Spy, told Page Six that she saw them holding hands. He’s also commented candidly on his mental health as it relates to relationships, and his dating is intense, historically. So I suppose one can simply focus on congratulating Wagg, number one gossip that side of the Atlantic, for landing the big scoop. Saturday Night Live is filming this week, so either the photo is old or it’s a quick jaunt or he’s not in this weekend’s episode.

Derek Jeter has now joined the ranks of Michael Jordan and Tom Cruise in terms of extremely rich men trying to unload their multi-million dollar properties. According to the New York Post, the Tampa mansion where Jeter let Tom Brady and his family live last year after he signed with the Buccaneers, has been on the market for 190 days. Jeter bought the property back in 2005 for $2.3 million before doing extensive renovations, putting it back on the market with a 1260% markup in September after Brady moved out. The 21,796 square-foot mansion is located in the exclusive Davis Islands community of Tampa and features seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms, and sweeping waterfront views. But in the case of his Tampa property, the problem might not be Jeter, but rather the home itself.

For years, Tucker Carlson has used his Fox News program to flirt with fascist and white nationalist talking points. Why should I be a good citizen if they don’t have to follow the rules?’” Carlson said. “I mean, things kind of break down at some point, don’t they?”“They will break down, they are breaking down, Tucker,” Kelly replied. Jesse Kelly, thank you.”Up until this Tucker Carlson Tonight appearance, Kelly’s most notable contribution to the discourse included one essay calling for the U.S. to split up––or else––and another fantasizing about Americans killing each other over political disagreements. — Leak of Bombshell CBS Investigation Led to Multimillion-Dollar Settlement— From the Archive: The Day Before Tragedy— Not a subscriber?

Donald Trump Jr. has spent the last two months and change attacking Cheney for disrespecting his father. Per CNN:A Wyoming Senate bill to create election runoffs failed on Wednesday, despite Donald Trump Jr.’s campaign to pass it in an attempt to defeat Republican Rep. Liz Cheney in 2022. In January, Trump Jr. called into an anti-Cheney rally led by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, urging Republicans to coalesce around a single candidate to challenge her. And in March, Trump Jr. publicly pressured the state senators on the committee working on the bill, tweeting their email addresses to his 6.8 million followers. “Any Republican in Wyoming who does Liz Cheney’s bidding and opposes SF145 is turning their back on my father and the entire America First movement,” Trump Jr. tweeted.

It was a sign of just how thoroughly the fabric of the Hamptons community, at least in the off-season, had been rewoven. “It’s a $400,000 car,” said Mary Waserstein, a Hamptons local who watched the episode unfold. “They were stuffing cheap cushions into a $400,000 car they would usually take out of storage in the summer. In the summer, various groups descend on the town: the haves, the have-mores, the Wall Street–money types, the old-family-money types, the flush-enough-to-drop-$150,000-a-month-on-a-rental types. “It went from pickup trucks to Range Rovers,” Waserstein said, adding that the cars come with a certain city sensibility.

When presenter Yalda Hakim mentioned Oprah’s headline-grabbing interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Albert responded with a surprising amount of candor. “The prince privately has never disputed that she is his daughter,” a friend of Albert told the tabloid. Albert is not the only European royal to condemn Meghan and Harry for sitting down with Oprah. Austria’s Archduke Karl von Habsburg, a distant relative of the Windsors, told Royal Central that he thought Harry’s low position on the line of succession made the international broadcast inappropriate. It is only internal gossip and garbage.”When Hakim asked Albert if he had any advice for Harry, the ruler of Monaco was vague.

The Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 catalyzed Black Americans far and wide, and CNN’s Don Lemon, the only African American cable-news anchor in prime time, was no different. Lemon joins Inside the Hive to discuss his best-selling new book, This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism. In it, Lemon describes how the Trump years exposed America’s racial wounds, but also cleared the way for a new era of accountability. “People are being held accountable, and they cannot just say something bigoted or racist or insensitive or inappropriate with impunity anymore,” Lemon observes. Join Vanity Fair to receive full access to VF.com and the complete online archive now.

However you feel about someone politically, there are lessons to be learned about when it makes sense to step down after a scandal. Here are three criteria leaders should consider when making this decision: A matter of trust A central issue is whether the leader can ever be trusted after the scandal. The more closely that a scandal relates to a leader’s job function, the harder it will be for that leader to inspire the trust necessary for an organization to move forward. At other times, though, team members lose faith in a scandal-plagued leader. In these instances, a minor moral transgression by a leader need not make people uncomfortable with that person’s operational focus.

Although the IRS has already sent out two large batches of Economic Impact Payments, millions of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients were not among them, even though they are among the very Americans who need them most. The issue seems to have largely impacted benefits recipients who didn’t file a tax return in 2019 or 2020. “We demand that you immediately provide the IRS with this information by tomorrow, March 25, 2021,” they wrote. Reached for comment, the SSA told Fast Company to reach out to the IRS for an estimated timeline. The good news is, the payments will be automatically distributed via the same method by which recipients receive their benefits, so the money will come eventually.

Here’s the latest update as we head into the weekend:Why are payments delayed? States are arranging the new payments. It’s a complex aid program involving billions of dollars and a maze of acronyms: The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program (FPUC) provides unemployment recipients an extra $300; three other programs—the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program (PUA), the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program (PEUC), and the Mixed Earner supplement (MEUC, for people who earn both W-2 and 1099 income)—were also expanded. As of this week, only a dozen states clustered on each coast and Texas had begun distributing the extra $300. You can also do a Google News search of “[your state] unemployment delays.”How long will the delay be?

How does the conspiracy theory connect Hillary Clinton to the ship? The first two characters of a maritime call sign “constitute the nationality identification” for the ship, according to the 2020 edition of the agency’s radio regulations. Another Clinton conspiracy theoryQAnon believers have targeted Clinton as part of several conspiracy theories. Our ruling: FalseThe claim that a ship stuck in the Suez Canal is a human trafficking vessel with links to Hillary Clinton is FALSE. Those pushing the conspiracy theory offer no proof that the ship is transporting people to be trafficked.

The Washington Post is drawing heat yet again — this time for changes it made to a story about immigration along the southern border. A post that ran on March 25 initially carried a headline that read: “There’s no migrant ‘surge’ at the U.S. southern border. The recording revealed that The Post misquoted Trump’s comments on the call, based on information provided by a source,” the paper said in a 129-word correction. Instead, Trump urged the investigator to scrutinize ballots in Fulton County, Ga., asserting she would find ‘dishonesty’ there. '”That report was particularly upsetting to Trump supporters since the erroneous words attributed to Trump were cited in the articles of impeachment.

Republican senators on Friday released shocking pictures of migrants and children packed into border facilities as they railed against what they called a border crisis of President Biden’s own creation. GOP SENATORS ENCOUNTER TRAFFICKERS, CARTEL MEMBERS AT BORDER DURING NIGHTTIME RIO GRANDE TOURThe 19-person delegation, led by Sens. Cruz and John Cornyn, R-Texas, toured a facility in Donna, where migrants have been packed into facilities designed for many fewer migrants. Senators who spoke to Border Patrol and other officials said that authorities were "overwhelmed" by the numbers -- something that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has also said. Customs and Border Protection encountered 100,000 migrants in February, while there are more than 16,000 child migrants in Border Patrol and Health and Human Services custody.

Such a takeover potentially would allow al Qaeda to rebuild in Afghanistan, the New York Times reported, quoting anonymous U.S. officials. Some U.S. officials who favor keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan are using the intelligence report to argue that the soldiers should remain beyond the deadline, the Times said. The classified intelligence assessment was prepared last year for the Trump administration, the Times said. At the same time, Biden said he “could not picture” U.S.-led foreign troops being in the country next year. The Taliban on Friday said it would resume hostilities against foreign forces - which ended under the U.S.-Taliban deal - if they remain beyond the deadline.

President Joe Biden’s administration is cutting things close on a nationwide eviction moratorium, which is set to expire in less than a week. President Joe Biden’s administration is cutting things close on a nationwide eviction moratorium, which is set to expire in less than a week. Housing advocates are confident the ban, due to expire March 31, will be extended for several months and possibly even strengthened. “The question is: What is the extension going to look like?”Dunn and others would like to see the moratorium extended and improved. ADVERTISEMENTBiden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package included more than $25 billion in emergency rental assistance, plus more to help tenants who were behind on their utilities, but no extension of the eviction moratorium.

National ReviewTop Biden administration officials have largely kept their promises to vigorously compete with China. But this flurry of activity has been joined, puzzlingly, with a deliberate effort to leave room for meetings such as last week’s rancorous U.S.-China summit in Alaska and President Biden’s decision to invite the CCP’s general secretary to a global climate summit. Blinken and Biden both have defined this contest as a fundamental battle between democracy and authoritarianism in the 21st century. But that doesn’t mean that countries can’t work with China where possible, for example, on challenges like climate change and health security. The meeting only succeeded in providing an opportunity for top CCP officials to reach that desired audience.

Venezuela had planned to request the formation of a WTO panel to rule on whether sanctions the United States imposed in 2018 and 2019 breached global trading rules. U.S. Trade Representative spokesman Adam Hodge said the panel request was illegitimate because the Maduro administration did not speak on behalf of the Venezuelan people. "The United States will reject any effort by Maduro to misuse the WTO to attack U.S. sanctions aimed at restoring human rights and democracy to Venezuela," he said in a statement. "Sooner rather than later Venezuela will defeat with the law what the United States seeks to impose with force," Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said on Twitter on Friday. The United States under President Donald Trump blocked appointments to the WTO's Appellate Body, leaving it with too few members to hear cases.

Today Schmidt is one of the most prominent scientists warning the world about the risks of a warming world. In 2004, he helped start a blog, Real Climate, in hopes of explaining climate science to the general public and science journalists. “One of the big surprises that emerged out of that was how many other climate scientists actually needed help to understand climate science” beyond their own fields, he said. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. © 2021 The New York Times Company

AdvertisementRepublican supporters say the law is needed to restore confidence in Georgia’s elections. The law gives the State Election Board new powers to intervene in county election offices and to remove and replace local election officials. Now early voting would begin “as soon as possible” but no later than the second Monday before the election, possibly leaving as little as five weekdays and no weekend days of early voting. A Democratic-backed measure passed the House earlier this month, but faces opposition from Senate Republicans wary of a federal takeover of state elections. It would expand voting by mail, promote early voting and give states money to track absentee ballots.

It was built in 2009 with “$8.2 million in capital improvement funds received from Lightford,” according to the hospital’s website. Another board member, state Rep. La Shawn Ford, resigned from the panel earlier this week, saying the hospital’s reprimands of Ahmed and Miller were insufficient. “I am very disappointed with the recent developments at The Loretto Hospital regarding its use of coronavirus vaccine entrusted to the hospital,” Ford said in a statement issued Tuesday morning. Loretto Hospital did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the internal audit. And what we’ve seen in at least two instances, that hasn’t been the case.”In his statement, Ahmed pleaded for the mayor to reverse her decision.

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s administration has less than a week to decide on extending the nationwide eviction moratorium, a measure that housing advocates say has helped keep most cash-strapped tenants across the country in their homes during the pandemic. Housing advocates are confident the ban, due to expire March 31, will be extended for several months and possibly even strengthened. “The question is: What is the extension going to look like?”Dunn and others would like to see the moratorium extended and improved. Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package included more than $25 billion in emergency rental assistance, plus more to help tenants who were behind on their utilities, but no extension of the eviction moratorium. One of the biggest changes being advocated is for Biden to make the ban’s protection’s automatic and universal.

On Thursday, Republicans enacted a law that targets the Democratic and Black voters who swung the 2020 election. Former President Donald Trump sought to overturn the election by invalidating votes in states, including Georgia, where there were close outcomes. Georgia’s new law will make it possible for the state to comply with such requests in the future. The law even criminalizes bringing food and water to voters forced to wait in line for up to 10 hours. But most worrisome is the way the Georgia law gives its legislature the power to appoint a majority of the state election board, including its chairman, who now is the secretary of state.

A Minnesota attorney who filed legal challenges to the November election of five congressional Democrats was given a $10,000 sanction Friday after a judge found she “bamboozled” voters into signing on as plaintiffs without their knowledge or permission. “Susan Shogren Smith … perpetrated a fraud against this court and, more importantly, perpetrated a fraud against these plaintiffs,” Ramsey County Chief District Judge Leonardo Castro said from the bench. Shogren Smith is a member of the MN Election Integrity Team, a conservative group that sought to prevent the state from certifying its election results while President Donald Trump and his allies promoted unfounded claims of election fraud. “As a lay person, an affidavit doesn’t mean anything.”Through her questioning, Shogren Smith explained to Braun that contesting an election in Minnesota means filing a lawsuit. Shogren Smith said she believed someone else with the MN Election Integrity Team was having those conversations with plaintiffs.

Erik LarsonBloombergGeorgia’s elections chief was sued by a group of nonprofit civic organizations that claim a new voting law signed Thursday by the state’s Republican governor will make it harder for minorities to cast ballots. The lawsuit, against Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, is one of the first challenges to a wave of voting restrictions taking shape in state legislatures across the country. It was filed late Thursday, right after the law passed, by groups including the New Georgia Project and the Black Voters Matter Fund. It was a pair of runoff elections in Georgia that gave the Democrats control of the Senate. Read More: Georgia Governor Signs Bill to Overhaul State’s Elections SystemThe suit rejects the governor’s claim that the law will improve election integrity.

ATLANTA (AP) — The sweeping rewrite of Georgia's election rules represents the first big set of changes since former President Donald Trump's repeated, baseless claims of fraud following his presidential loss to Joe Biden. Republican supporters say the law is needed to restore confidence in Georgia’s elections. Here's a look at some of the top issues:CAN THE STATE TAKE OVER LOCAL ELECTION OFFICES? The law gives the State Election Board new powers to intervene in county election offices and to remove and replace local election officials. That has led to concerns that the Republican-controlled state board could exert more influence over the administration of elections, including the certification of county results.

Another flaw: Landlords in some jurisdictions have been initiating eviction proceedings in court, a tactic the Trump administration opened the door to in a much derided amendment to the ban. “It has allowed landlords to have these evictions just teed up and ready to go,” Dunn said. Landlords in several states have sued to scrap the order, arguing it was causing them financial hardship and infringing on their property rights. One judge in Memphis declared the CDC order unenforceable in the entire Western District of Tennessee. “Individual eviction cases are still heard by state court judges far and wide — many of who never liked the CDC halt order to begin with and were just itching for ways to circumvent it or disregard it,” Dunn said.

“They have an overall goal to become the leading country in the world, the wealthiest country in the world, and the most powerful country in the world. That's not going to happen on my watch.”Mr Biden plans to unveil a multi-trillion-dollar plan to upgrade US infrastructure next week. And I suggested we should have, essentially, a similar initiative coming from the democratic states, helping those communities around the world." Meanwhile, nearly all Nato member states in Eastern and Southern Europe have associations with the project. According to a Refinitiv database, as of mid-last year, over 2,600 projects at a cost of $3.7 trillion were linked to the initiative.

China's President Xi Jinping (R) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin haven't spoken to President Joe Biden but "know they're invited," he saidAdvertising Read moreWashington (AFP)President Joe Biden has invited his counterparts Xi Jinping of China and Russia's Vladimir Putin to a virtual climate summit he is hosting in April, the White House announced on Friday. "They know they're invited," Biden said of Xi and Putin. Biden kept his campaign pledge to rejoin the Paris climate agreement on his first day in the White House, after Trump pulled out of the deal. "The Summit will also highlight examples of how enhanced climate ambition will create good paying jobs, advance innovative technologies, and help vulnerable countries adapt to climate impacts," the White House said in a statement. Biden dispatched his climate envoy, former secretary of state John Kerry, to prepare the ground for the summit in meetings with European leaders earlier this month.

The Senate hearings revealed an abiding interest in pinpointing intelligence and security failures ahead of and during the insurrection. A House subcommittee hearing on Wednesday took a look at domestic terrorism at the state and local level, from prosecutors’ perspectives. The former heads of congressional security, and particularly disgraced Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, traded accusations of irresponsibility during high-profile hearings in February. ”The hearings’ most poignant moments may have come from Walker, whose frustration over the Pentagon suppressing the Guard’s arrival was powerful. Short of that, these hearings should continue.”Members of Congress have not utterly shrunk from holding those responsible for Jan. 6 to account.

Live Live Updates: Biden Calls Georgia’s Restrictive Voter Law ‘an Atrocity’ Georgia’s new law limits voting access. Some senior Biden administration officials have expressed skepticism of any intelligence prediction that Al Qaeda or the Islamic State will resurge in Afghanistan. Mr. Biden invited King Salman of Saudi Arabia but not the de facto leader of the country, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. President Biden has promised enough doses by the end of May to immunize all of the nation’s adults. A climate scientist’s new job at NASA shows how the Biden administration is elevating climate issues.

Romney, 74, is the 2021 recipient of the annual Profile in Courage Award, the foundation announced on Friday. "The 2021 Profile in Courage Award goes to Senator Mitt Romney for his vote to convict President Donald J. Trump in 2020, and his consistent and courageous defense of democracy," the official announcement reads. Mitt Romney Image zoom Mitt Romney | Credit: Bill Clark/CQ Roll CallRomney spoke to the Today show on Friday about the award, saying he was "very appreciative" and "also humbled by it." Romney twice voted to convict Trump, and several other Republicans joined him in the second trial. Mitt Romney, Donald Trump Image zoom Mitt Romney (L); Donald Trump | Credit: Felix Hörhager/picture alliance via Getty; MANDEL NGAN/AFP via GettyRELATED VIDEO: Mitt Romney Joins Black Lives Matter Protest in Washington, D.C., as Trump Mocks HimRomney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee who has long been a vocal critic of Trump's, confirmed in October that he did not vote for Trump in November.

On Thursday, Dominion sued Fox News Media in Delaware for $1.6 billion, according to a copy of the complaint shared with the press. "Fox sold a false story of election fraud in order to serve its own commercial purposes, severely injuring Dominion in the process." "FOX News Media is proud of our 2020 election coverage, which stands in the highest tradition of American journalism, and will vigorously defend against this baseless lawsuit in court," the spokesperson said. The Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said the 2020 election was "the most secure in American history." Former Attorney General William Barr, a staunch Trump ally, was among those to determine there was no widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.

Donald Trump-Supporting Boater Buzzes Through SpaceX Splashdown Zone, Prompting OutrageAdded: 03.08.2020 7:03 | 6 views | 0 commentsSource: arstechnica.comCrew Dragon splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday after spending two months on the International Space Station. Emre Kelly, who covers space topics for USA Today, was following the event closely while commenting on social media. Did a private boat flying a Trump flag just approach Crew Dragon then have to be forced out?" On a good day, it's dangerous for the SpaceX recovery crew + boat. More in feeds.inquisitr.com » Social media, Mexico, USA, SPA, NASA Tags: Donald TrumpComments: Comments: Tags advertisingCopyright © 2008 - 2021 USweekly - all rights reserved Contact us

A 'Galactic Federation' Of Aliens Has Made Contact With The United States, Former Israeli General ClaimsAdded: 08.12.2020 11:06 | 7 views | 0 commentsSource: www.techquila.co.inA former Israeli general is claiming that both the and Israel have been in contact with aliens for years. Haim Eshed, who served as the head of the Israeli space security program for 30 years and is currently a professor, made the comments in an interview with the Tel Aviv-based newspaper Yediot Aharonot. In addition, the retired general said that aliens are not only communicating with human scientists, but working with them. Over the past couple of years, both the United States and Israel have ramped up their extraterrestrial exploration programs. More in feeds.inquisitr.com » Middle East, Israel, Scientists, President, United States, Universities, Mars, SPA, NASA, UFO Tags: FEDComments: Comments:

Drug Pitched to Trump for Covid-19 Comes From a Deadly PlantAdded: 20.08.2020 20:10 | 10 views | 0 commentsSource: myfox47.comThe chief executive of My Pillow, a Trump donor, claims oleandrin is a miracle cure for Covid-19. But no studies have shown that it is safe or effective, and the shrub it’s derived from is poisonous. More in www.nytimes.com »

Coronavirus hits already struggling US farmers: 'We've stopped saying it can't get worse'Added: 26.03.2021 17:18 | 5 views | 0 commentsSource: www.cleveland.comFarm trade groups are lobbying the Trump administration to provide financial aid for farmers enduring price drops amid the coronavirus pandemic. More in www.cnbc.com »

Trump country remains gun countryAdded: 26.03.2021 16:26 | 6 views | 0 commentsSource: thedailycoin.orgIn places with more gun retailers, Trump fared much better in 2020. More in www.washingtonpost.com »

A vivid reminder that the threat to American democracy remainsAdded: 26.03.2021 14:17 | 20 views | 0 commentsFrom Trump downplaying the Capitol riot to a decision in Missouri, Thursday was a potent demonstration of the existing threat.

After Trump tried to intervene in the 2020 vote, state Republicans are moving to take more control of electionsAdded: 26.03.2021 21:17 | 11 views | 0 commentsCritics say a new law that passed in Georgia on Thursday clears the way for partisan actors to sway the certification of election results, as President Donald Trump unsuccessfully urged Republicans to do last fall.

The false claims from Fox News and Trump allies cited in Dominion’s $1.6 billion lawsuitAdded: 26.03.2021 21:17 | 7 views | 0 commentsDominion Voting sued Fox News for $1.6 billion on March 26 for repeated false claims about election fraud that the network’s hosts and guests made on air.

Former White House aide Bolton says Trump not 'fit' to be presidentAdded: 18.06.2020 19:47 | 3 views | 0 commentsFormer top White House aide John Bolton delivered a damning indictment of his former boss, saying Donald Trump's behavior in office and dealings with foreign leaders showed he was unfit to be president of the United States.

Added: 18.06.2020 19:47 | 9 views | 0 commentsU.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday revelations in a book by a former top White House aide show President Donald Trump is unfit and unprepared to be president and Democrats will continue oversight of the Republican president's behavior.

Added: 18.06.2020 19:30 | 8 views | 0 commentsThe U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday dealt President Donald Trump a major setback on his hardline immigration policies, blocking his bid to end a program that protects from deportation hundreds of thousands of immigrants - often called "Dreamers" - who entered the United States illegally as children.

FILE- In this Sept. 16, 2019, file photo, a Dominion Voting Systems voting machine is seen in Atlanta. There was no known widespread fraud in the 2020 election, a fact that a range of election officials across the country — and even Trump’s attorney general, William Barr — have confirmed. Though Dominion serves 28 states, until the 2020 election it had been largely unknown outside the election community. A rival technology company, Smartmatic USA , also sued Fox News over election claims for a similar sum of money. Unlike Dominion, Smartmatic’s participation in the 2020 election was restricted to Los Angeles County.

But an educated reckoning with polling error is in order, and Nate Silver, whose FiveThirtyEight site involves a lot of slicing and dicing of polling data, offers a good first take that is already spurring some debate. Average error in the presidential general election of 2020, however, was over 10 percent (the same as it was in 2016, actually). Looking at polling averages doesn’t eliminate the risk of industry-wide error or bias, but it does reduce it somewhat. Treating polling data as just part of the picture in analyzing political races (which many traditional handicappers like the Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball do) is the safest approach. But as the proliferation of critiques and defenses of political polling illustrate, these are difficult times for that industry and for the writers, gabbers, campaigns, and elected officials who rely on it.

John Poulos, president and CEO of Dominion Voting Systems, testifies before the United States Committee on House Administration on January 9, 2020. Photo: ShutterstockDominion Voting Systems filed a defamation suit against Fox News Network on Friday over the network’s claims that the company meddled in the 2020 election results. Allegations of massive voter fraud in the 2020 general election have been debunked. Fox News itself is already being sued by Smartmatic, another voting-equipment company, that also alleges the network made defamatory statements linking it to voter fraud. In response to the lawsuit, Fox News released a statement that said, “Fox News Media is proud of our 2020 election coverage, which stands in the highest tradition of American journalism, and will vigorously defend against this baseless lawsuit in court.”

Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty ImagesOne of the most dangerous, long-lasting changes effected by Donald Trump is the rightward extension of the Republican coalition. Rather than simply denounce the fencing, Trump launched into a defense of the riot. “It was zero threat, right from the start, it was zero threat. Trump proceeded to portray the prosecution of the insurrectionists as a witch hunt against his movement. “They’re doing things, they’re persecuting a lot of those people,” he complained.

Stacey Abrams is at the forefront of efforts to fight Georgia’s new voting law, and may help overturn it as governor after 2022. But now that the deed is done, what can the law’s critics do to undo the damage? Short of the omnibus reforms in the For the People Act, congressional Democrats could buttress voting-rights prospectively, perhaps by enacting the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would restore the original VRA enforcement scheme. That would put a pause on voting-suppression measures by states with a history of racist election administration (like Georgia) until they are reviewed by the Justice Department. The odds are high that Georgia’s preeminent voting-rights champion, Stacey Abrams, will seek a rematch with Brian Kemp in 2022.

Over the past year, 12 media workers were killed across Afghanistan – a more than 150 percent increase over the previous year. “The U.S. paved the road for these killings,” says one Afghan journalist in hiding, who asked not to be identified. Afghan officials have reportedly confirmed that a Taliban cell was created to target journalists in the capital. As more seasoned Afghan media workers flee or go to ground, the depth and quality of information coming out of the country is diminishing. If the mission is extended, which appears likely, the Taliban has pledged a severe “reaction.” For Afghan journalists under attack from without and within, it’s hard to imagine conditions getting any worse.

The former president went on Fox Thursday night and lied. Trump lied about how his supporters involved in the attack on the Capitol posed “zero threat.” Meanwhile, the assault left five dead, including Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick, and injured more than 130 officers. Trump lied about the mob “hugging and kissing the police and the guards” but just this week, The New York Times stitched-together video from that day that appears to show a coordinated attack against law enforcement that day. “It was zero threat, right from the start, it was zero threat,” Trump said. The prosecutor also said that more than 100 of Trump’s mob were charged with assaulting federal officers or local police.

The new law, passed by both chambers of the state legislature and signed by Gov. The new law also empowers the state election board to suspend or replace local election officials and delay certification, making it potentially easier for them to meddle with results. Brian Kemp signed the 95-page bill on Thursday evening, less than two hours after it was passed by both houses of the state legislature. President Biden slammed Georgia’s new law in his first press conference as president Thursday. The state legislature has power to do what it wants.”

“China has tried to use Wall Street in the past to provide ballast in the relationship,” said Ryan Hass, a former Obama administration China specialist. When he negotiated a North American trade deal, he eliminated special tribunals that allowed corporations to end-run Mexico’s legal system, calling it an implicit subsidy for offshoring. Wall Street was among the big winners in Trump’s China trade deal. Additional restrictions on American trade and investment flows may loom. To compete economically with China, the United States needs a sophisticated financial industry, which requires experience in the second-largest economy in the world.

We lived in Kyiv — Ukraine’s capital, about 100 miles away — and like everyone we were kept in the dark. Seeing people in Ukraine scramble to find work, my parents felt convinced that with fluent English and an American degree, the doors would open up for me. America felt very different from the place I had come to nearly 20 years ago. In the spring of 2020, when we knew little and feared everything, the coronavirus pandemic raged on, cases and deaths mounting. After I became a citizen, a friend told me I’d picked the wrong year to tie myself to America.

In North Carolina, Trump won Latino men by 20 points but lost Latinas by 54 points. Why, I wondered, did Latino men seem to be shifting to the right? In fact, especially in some border communities, law enforcement is a major employer of Latino men. Instead of expecting — as many progressives do — Latino men to automatically vote against someone who works against their “self-interest,” it might be better to ask what Latino men actually see as their best interests and how they view themselves — and then adjust accordingly. Democrats can certainly make inroads with Latino men — though my dad, as you can see, won’t be one of them.

On Fox Across America with Jimmy Failla, Ranking Member on the House Committee on Homeland Security Rep. John Katko (R-NY) explained why President Biden’s immigration policy is a “nightmare” and said he also expects some “real heat” might be coming Gov. Because of drug cartels, I can tell you from being down there and working on the border, nobody cross that border without without paying them. And every single day that this crisis is going on, the drug cartels are making a minimum of fifteen million dollars a day. They’re going to be making over a billion dollars at the very top, a billion dollars in the very near future. It’s a nightmare and it’s a humanitarian crisis that doesn’t have to be.”“The hubris knows knows no bounds, that’s for sure.

Rep. Ilhan Omar traveled to a Texas border facility for migrant children on Friday as she compared her own refugee story to that of the children trying to gain asylum in the United States. ILHAN OMAR PROVIDES DETAILS OF UPCOMING BORDER VISIT"I myself was a child who fled, like these kids, unconscionable violence," Omar said. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, shared pictures of the shocking conditions inside these CBP facilities as they also toured the southern border on Friday. Castro acknowledged that the images of the CBP facilities are "horrendous" but said the kids-only HHS facility he visited is at least "better." Even these [HHS] facilities that have better conditions than the CBP processing centers are not the places for kids.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats on Friday introduced a resolution to rescind a rule they say curbs shareholder voting rights, their second move aimed at unraveling business regulations introduced by former President Donald Trump’s administration. REUTERS/Elizabeth FrantzIntroduced by Senate Banking Chairman Sherrod Brown, the resolution aims to undo a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rule which investors say curbs their power to push for corporate action on issues like climate change and compensation. Last year’s changes to the SEC rule on shareholder proposals made it much harder for working families and investors to hold corporate management accountable,” said Brown in a statement to Reuters. The SEC, now led by Democratic acting chair Allison Lee, who voted against the September rule, declined to comment. It is designed to dramatically curtail shareholder rights and discriminates against retail investors,” she said.

FILE PHOTO: Katherine C. Tai addresses the Senate Finance committee hearings to examine her nomination to be United States Trade Representative, with the rank of ambassador, in Washington, DC February 25, 2021. Bill O'Leary/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said on Friday that she will not back away from threatening tariffs, announcing she is readying potential duties against Austria, Britain, India, Italy, Spain and Turkey in retaliation for their digital services taxes. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced the decision despite the Biden administration’s renewed commitments to pursue a global agreement on digital services taxes. If they do adopt a digital services tax, USTR said it may open a new tariff probe. The taxes target in-country revenues of digital services platforms such as Facebook, Google, and Amazon.com.

By comparison, the Biden team is taking a more conventional approach. But there are steps the Biden team can take to send a stronger signal without resorting to military action. And it’s not clear how much Beijing will want to pressure North Korea right now. This is a contrast to the short-range weapons tests last weekend, which military officials linked to U.S.-South Korea military drills. “I would rather see North Korea feel pressure for some period of time before we try diplomacy again.”

(Reuters) -A coalition of civil rights groups has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Georgia’s sweeping new voting restrictions, arguing that the Republican-backed law is intended to make it harder for people – particularly Black voters – to cast ballots. FILE PHOTO: Protesters gather outside of the Georgia State Capitol to protest HB 531, which would place tougher restrictions on voting in Georgia, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. March 4, 2021. “It’s an atrocity,” Biden told reporters on Friday, shortly after comparing the restrictions to racist “Jim Crow” laws that for decades kept Black Southerners from full voting rights. He has urged Congress to pass Democratic-backed legislation that would require automatic registration, expand absentee voting and temper voter ID laws. That phone call is part of a criminal investigation by state prosecutors into whether Trump broke election laws by pressuring officials to alter the results.

The sweeping rewrite of Georgia's election rules that was signed into law by Republican Gov. The sweeping rewrite of Georgia's election rules that was signed into law by Republican Gov. ADVERTISEMENTRepublican supporters say the law is needed to restore confidence in Georgia’s elections. The law gives the State Election Board new powers to intervene in county election offices and to remove and replace local election officials. It would expand voting by mail, promote early voting and give states money to track absentee ballots.

Harris has no plans to visit the U.S.-Mexico border region “in the near future,” spokeswoman Symone Sanders said Friday. Sanders said Harris will go to the border at some point but emphasized the diplomatic nature of the vice president’s role. ADVERTISEMENT“The vice president is not doing the border,” Sanders told reporters on a flight to Connecticut, where Harris was promoting the administration’s COVID-19 relief package. He tweeted out photos of dozens of minors, wrapped in foil-like space blankets, lying on the floor of crowded Border Patrol facilities. It is not unusual to see increases in migrants coming across the border at this time of year and the Border Patrol has faced similar situations in the past, the official said.

ADVERTISEMENTThe Security Council has been meeting virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic and email voting began after the North’s missile launches on Thursday morning. All council members agreed that the panel of experts should investigate the two latest ballistic missile launches on Thursday morning, they said. The council has imposed increasingly tough sanctions on North Korea since its first test explosion of a nuclear device in 2006. “It displayed new short-range, medium-range, submarine-launched and intercontinental ballistic missile systems at military parades,” they said. “It announced preparation for testing and production of new ballistic missile warheads and, development of tactical nuclear weapons ... and upgraded its ballistic missile infrastructure.”

Greta Thunberg showed once again that she’s a master of throwing subtle shade with her response to a scientific report linking pollution to the shrinking of human penises. Finally, something they care about!” responded one person on Twitter. Added another: “Greta Thunberg, best sniper on the net.”Tweet of the day https://t.co/N2vpOGIVL4 — Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) March 26, 2021We all have something to fight for now ? https://t.co/3gdnA4PX8P — Alexander Tang (@alexandertangy) March 25, 2021I do love her dry sense of humour! https://t.co/xI0EvKGEzo — Debra Baker (@debrabaker33) March 25, 2021"No one is too small to make a difference". — Shali (@shaldore) March 25, 2021I love her — Lauren Ingram (@laureningram) March 26, 2021This will get the men on board!

Karina Aguirre and her children are heading to Miami - and a new life (Andrew Buncombe)They face a long bus ride before reaching their final destination, perhaps several. And hundreds board buses bound for cities such as as Dallas and Houston. The decision by the Biden administration means officials have been releasing many migrants before they have court dates for their asylum cases. Aguirre is traveling first to Houston on a pale blue bus, operated by the El Expreso Bus Company. He says in the last few weeks, he has been driving hundreds of migrants as they embark on new lives, new beginnings.

Wildlife, parks and climate advocacy groups have hailed her confirmation as a major win for public lands and say that under Haaland’s leadership the interior department will renew its focus on fighting the climate emergency. Bringing science back to the forefront is a crucial first step, said Kristen Brengel with the National Parks Conservation Association, pointing to the National Parks Service, an agency within the interior department. National parks are warming twice as fast as the rest of the country, said Brengel, the NPCA’s vice-president of government affairs. Biden has also asked the interior department to review that program. “I think the encouraging thing is they want to do something and they’re being very inclusive,” said David Willms, the senior director for western wildlife with the National Wildlife Federation.

The New York TimesSEOUL, South Korea — North Korea issued warnings for more than a week. The ballistic missile test Thursday came a day after senior U.S. officials dismissed an earlier North Korean missile test as “normal military activity.” That test, which occurred Sunday, involved two short-range cruise missiles. As details of the Biden administration’s North Korea policy are made available in the coming weeks, North Korea is likely to continue raising tensions, analysts said. But the missile test Thursday showed that China’s influence on North Korea remained “limited,” Cheong said. “North Korea believes that if the United States tries to impose sanctions, China will provide cover for it,” he said.

But Mr Trump’s attack did not go down well with Twitter users who were quick to point out the irony of the situation. — Politically Incorrect (@pol1tically) March 26, 2021Another user called it a “master class in gaslighting,” as they pointed out that it was Mr Trump’s “border policy in a nutshell”. Wasn’t that Trump’s border policy in a nutshell? Since entering the office on 20 January, Mr Biden has signed several executive orders that erased immigration policies that were enacted by his predecessor. Mr Trump, during his tenure, took a much harsher stance as he worked largely to restrict those who would be able to come to the US and seek citizenship.

Donald Trump at his last visit to the US-Mexico border (REUTERS)Donald Trump is considering a visit to the US-Mexico border but is giving President Joe Biden enough space to “fail on his own”, according to aide Jason Miller. Mr Trump was waiting, however, to let Mr Biden “go and fail on his own before he goes and steps in on that”. Mr Biden, who has said he plans on visiting the border “at some point”, this week tasked Vice President Kamala Harris with “stemming the migration” at the border with Mexico. But it is something that President Trump is really concerned about.”During an appearance on Fox News on Thursday, Mr Trump said the Biden administration’s policies were “inhumane”. “As soon as I'm in a position to be able to implement what we are doing right now,” Mr Biden said.

Prosecutors pursuing the massive investigation into the Capitol riot suffered a setback Friday as a federal appeals court ruled that two defendants currently in pretrial detention may be entitled to release. Circuit — its first in the sprawling set of cases stemming from the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol — had been eagerly awaited by prosecutors and defense lawyers as a signal of how the appeals court plans to grapple with those events. Katsas noted that both defendants had made provocative statements about their willingness to sacrifice for their cause, but he dismissed it as just talk. During the chaos of the Capitol riot, Munchel and Eisenhart had ample opportunity to fight, yet neither of them did,” Katsas wrote. All the appeals court judges said the assault on the Capitol on Jan. 6 was a grave one and that those who engaged in violence deserve to be treated as a danger.

With their protests continuing, far-right groups deployed many of the same talking points as the vaccination opponents. Numerous channels link to the government website called VAERS, for Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, to energize followers. The COVID-19 vaccines in use, like most vaccinations, are considered overwhelmingly safe, but inevitably a small percentage of recipients suffer adverse reactions, some of them severe. For example, David Icke, a British serial conspiracy theorist, posted a video called “Murder by Vaccine” saying that it transformed the nature of the human body. The general proliferation of conspiracy theories by QAnon followers for years has helped to create a shared vocabulary among far-right organizations, experts said, which smoothed the way for spreading false information about the vaccines.

Early on in the pandemic, the Justice Department made fighting such crimes a priority. There was added urgency after Congress passed the massive CARES Act a year ago Friday, which provided a lifeline of cash to help support the country's economy. Now, on the anniversary of the CARES Act, the Justice Department says that over the past year it has charged 474 defendants with fraud or other criminal schemes tied to the pandemic. Unemployment insurance — weekly federal unemployment benefits worth $600 a week — also came on line because of the CARES Act. The Justice Department has charged more than 140 people so far for fraud related to the program.

Joe Biden has invited Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to the first major climate talks of his presidency, a signal that the United States is willing to put the climate crisis above even its most strained international relations. President Biden is hosting the virtual talks, which will be live-streamed to the public, around Earth Day on April 22 and 23. The president was asked about the invites to Mr Putin and Mr Xi on Friday, and replied, “they know they’re invited. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to theClimate newsletter sign up I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The climate summit is being viewed as a key event this year ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP26, this November in Glasgow.

And hundreds board buses bound for cities such as as Dallas and Houston. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the News newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the News newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Aguirre is traveling first to Houston on a pale blue bus, operated by the El Expreso Bus Company. He says in the last few weeks, he has been driving hundreds of migrants as they embark on new lives, new beginnings.

Mr Trump was waiting, however, to let Mr Biden “go and fail on his own before he goes and steps in on that”. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But it is something that President Trump is really concerned about.”During an appearance on Fox News on Thursday, Mr Trump said the Biden administration’s policies were “inhumane”. “As soon as I'm in a position to be able to implement what we are doing right now,” Mr Biden said.

President Joe Biden is including rivals Vladimir Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping of China among the invitees to the first big climate talks of his administration, an event the U.S. hopes will help shape, speed up and deepen global efforts to cut climate-wrecking fossil fuel pollution, administration officials told The Associated Press. The Biden administration intentionally looked beyond its international partners for the talks, an administration official said. He pulled the United States out of the 2015 U.N. Paris climate accords as one of his first actions. Another Biden administration official said the U.S. is still deciding how far the administration will go in setting a more ambitious U.S. emissions target. Biden and other administration officials have been stressing U.S. climate intentions during early one-on-one talks with foreign leaders, and Biden climate envoy John Kerry has focused on speeding up emissions cuts internationally in diplomacy abroad.

AdvertisementA Manhattan apartment building emptied out a tenant's rent-controlled apartment where he has lived for 20 years while he was hospitalized with COVID, leaving behind just his piano and pet tortoise, because 'everyone assumed he had died'. Japanese native Ryo Nagaoka, 60, has lived in the East Village apartment for more than 20 years. He works in midtown, at a noodle restaurant, and lives alone with his pet tortoise, Kame-san, which in English translates to Mr. Tortoise. Scroll down for videoJapanese native Ryo Nagaoka, 60, returned to the East Village apartment where he has lived for 20 years on Wednesday to find it had been emptied out entirely. He has no phone, wallet, ID orThe building - which is owned in part by Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran and A-Rod - had cleaned everything out.

Biden took aim at Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin for embracing autocracy. 'He's one of the guys, like Putin, who thinks that autocracy is the wave of the future, (and) democracy can't function in an ever-complex world,' Biden said. The Biden administration intentionally looked beyond its international partners for the talks, an administration official said. Another Biden administration official said the U.S. is still deciding how far the administration will go in setting a more ambitious U.S. emissions target. Biden and other administration officials have been stressing U.S. climate intentions during early one-on-one talks with foreign leaders, and Biden climate envoy John Kerry has focused on speeding up emissions cuts internationally in diplomacy abroad.

Days after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed finally admitted Eritrean troops were in Tigray after months of denial, the Nobel Peace Prize winner on Friday said they would be withdrawing from Ethiopia. For months, the Ethiopian government simply denied the involvement of Eritrean troops in the deadly conflict in its northern Tigray province. But on Tuesday, March 23, it was suddenly official: Eritrean troops were indeed present on Ethiopian soil. On Friday morning, Abiy announced that the Eritrean troops who were officially not present on Monday would be withdrawing from Tigray. While Ethiopian government forces control Tigray’s cities, towns and major roads, Eritrean troops are situated in the rural areas, according to witnesses.

One of the most notable parts of the new Georgia voting law signed by Gov. The new law includes giving food and water in a section on electioneering that places new restrictions on the practice. The law states that poll workers under the law could still bring water from a fountain, or bottles of water, to people in line. These groups have noted that Black voters in the state often can be waiting in long lines for a chance to vote, and they see the water and food provision as targeting such voters. The law would also limit the use of ballot drop boxes in the state and require Georgia voters to produce photo ID for absentee voting, among other things.

The Biden administration intentionally looked beyond its international partners for the talks, an administration official said. He pulled the United States out of the 2015 U.N. Paris climate accords as one of his first actions. Another Biden administration official said the U.S. is still deciding how far the administration will go in setting a more ambitious U.S. emissions target. That includes two countries — Russia and China — that Biden and his diplomats are clashing against, over election interference, cyber attacks, human rights and other issues. Biden and other administration officials have been stressing U.S. climate intentions during early one-on-one talks with foreign leaders, and Biden climate envoy John Kerry has focused on diplomacy abroad to galvanize climate efforts.

If China keeps preventing a full and unrestricted international forensic investigation into the origins of the pandemic, I believe it is fair to deny Beijing the benefit of the doubt. In late 2019 the SARS-CoV-2 virus appeared in Wuhan. The genetic similarity between the RaTG13 virus and SARS-CoV-2 suggest that SARS-CoV-2 or a closely related backbone virus could have been sampled from the Mojiang mine and brought to the WIV (which is why the disappeared WIV databases and lab records are so critical). It is also plausible that SARS-CoV-2 could have been among the viruses held in or derived from a different virus in the WIV repository. The Chinese authorities have gone to great lengths to destroy evidence and silence anyone in China who might be in a position to provide evidence on the origins of COVID-19.

In his press conference on March 25, President Biden called North Korea the nation’s greatest national security threat. Indeed, on Obama’s (and Biden’s) watch, North Korea conducted four nuclear tests and built about a half dozen nuclear bombs per year. That is all to the good, but is not really the same thing as a North Korea policy. Dismantle North Korean nuclear sitesSpecifically, working with regional partners, we should seek to persuade North Korea to dismantle verifiably its nuclear production sites. Only a long-term two-step nuclear disarmament process can work with North Korea, and the new Biden policy should begin from that premise.

Barely weeks after waxing furious over then-President Donald Trump’s efforts to “overturn the election,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is getting set to . overturn an election. Nor, of course, all the condemnation of Trump for his demands to legislators and Mike Pence to interfere with his race. Yet Pelosi says the “process” whereby Democrats may turn Hart’s loss into a win is perfectly fair. Whatever moral high ground the Democrats had on “Respect the vote,” Pelosi is throwing it out the window.

President Biden on Friday called a new Georgia election law “Jim Crow in the 21st century,” likening its provisions to racially discriminatory laws cast aside in the 1960s. Democrats allege that the bill will constrict voting, particularly among poorer and African American voters, who helped Biden carry the state in November by fewer than 12,000 votes. It adds rigid restrictions on casting absentee ballots that will effectively deny the right to vote to countless voters. He also called on Congress to pass federal voting rights legislations that would turn back some of these state measures. Republicans approved the reform law following allegations from former President Donald Trump that fraud tipped Georgia to Biden, which GOP state officials including Kemp denied.

So, let’s get this straight: By Biden’s own admission, Democrats abused the filibuster to obstruct President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda. ADADEven in the face of the Democrats’ unprecedented obstruction, then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) refused Trump’s repeated entreaties to get rid of the legislative filibuster. “No Republican has any trouble imagining the laundry list of socialist policies that 51 Senate Democrats would happily inflict on Middle America in a filibuster-free Senate,” McConnell said. ADADUnhindered by the filibuster, Democrats will also pack the Supreme Court and install an activist liberal majority that will protect their constitutional overreach. More than a decade later, despite unified GOP control of government under Trump, Republicans were unable to repeal it.

ADNorth Korea had delivered a fiery calling card over the past week by launching a series of short-range missiles. North Korea offers a rare example of where President Donald Trump prepared carefully for a diplomatic pressure campaign. If Xi thinks the United States’ demise is permanent and irreversible, the wise course presumably would be to wait until America is even weaker. ADSince Anchorage, Chinese think tanks have been using a phrase that means “hit, hit, talk, talk” to describe what’s ahead with the United States, according to one top Sinologist. The “hit, hit” part of that formula carries significant risks — especially if China continues to believe that a weakened America isn’t ready to fight back.

ADADThese days, it’s rarely the case that discussions of voting access involve explicitly stated opposition to large demographic groups voting. A century ago — well, 60 years ago — Black Americans were barred from voting through often-indirect mechanisms. The effort to tamp down on Black voting was rationalized and manifested in a variety of ways, but it is impossible to extricate race from those efforts. ADADOthers take a different tack in trying to juxtapose the Republican efforts to constrain voting with the Democratic efforts to expand it. Maybe Democrats are only trying to encourage more voting because they think it will lead to their winning more elections.

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, received the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation’s 2021 "Profile in Courage" award on Thursday for what the organization described as his "historic" vote to convict former President Donald Trump during his first impeachment trial last year. In Feb. 2020, Romney was the only Republican senator who voted to convict Trump on an impeachment charge of "abuse of power." Earlier this year, Romney joined with a handful of Senate Republicans who voted to convict Trump on a single charge of incitement of insurrection over his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"I’m humbled by the Kennedy family’s recognition today," Romney said in a statement. Created in 1989, the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award is awarded to "recognize and celebrate the quality of political courage that he admired most," according to the foundation’s website.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s trade enforcement chief is retiring on Friday and said the agency needs more resources to keep up with increasingly sophisticated efforts to evade U.S tariffs and forced labor restrictions. The Trump administration charged those are produced with forced labor of detained Uighur Muslims. Overall in fiscal 2020, CBP's trade office collected $74.4 billion in duties and other revenue, up from $71.9 billion a year earlier despite a drop in imports due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to CBP's latest trade data here. Smith, who is retiring after 34 years in government, including seven running the CBP trade office, said she has no immediate plans, but may work in the private trade sector. A CBP spokesman said the trade office will be headed on an acting basis by John Leonard, CBP’s executive director of trade policy and programs.

FILE PHOTO: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton addresses reporters on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court. REUTERS/Kevin LamarqueThe 14 Republican state attorneys general, led by Ken Paxton of Texas, asked the justices to put on hold an Illinois-based federal judge’s decision that threw out the so-called “public charge” rule nationwide. As a result, the Supreme Court on March 9 dismissed two appeals launched before Trump left office that sought to preserve the rule after lower courts ruled against it. Biden, who has criticized Trump’s immigration approach, was widely expected to dump the public charge rule. Friday’s filing was the first emergency application made at the Supreme Court against a Biden administration policy move.

But now that he lives at the White House, he often just wants to go home. The confines of the White House, with butlers and housekeepers always waiting on them, have made the Biden’s Delaware homes much more inviting and comfortable by comparison, another source said. Escaping to Delaware allows Biden to unwind and reset in a more relaxing place with his grandchildren, which is a huge priority for him, according to a White House official. As president, travel back to his home state is far more complicated. The overall cost of Biden’s Wilmington weekend trips are not yet known.

Migrants cross the Usumacinta River on boats from Guatemala, to Frontera Corozal, Chiapas state, Mexico, Wednesday, March 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)Migrants cross the Usumacinta River on boats from Guatemala, to Frontera Corozal, Chiapas state, Mexico, Wednesday, March 24, 2021. As in 2019, Mexico relies heavily on highway checkpoints transiting its narrow southern isthmus to prevent migrants heading north. “A few days ago, in a half-hour ... we saw hundreds walking along a mountain path.”Uncontrolled crossings dot Mexico’s southern border. In some, like La Mesilla, residents set up a street market on both sides of the border three days a week.

Sanders, ahead of his own panel’s hearing on tax-related matters on Thursday, unveiled his corporate tax hike bill, which he said would raise $2.3 trillion. Sanders’ bill would raise the corporate income tax rate to 35%, higher than Biden’s proposed 28%. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi mentioned bonds as one way “to help pay for all of this” in her weekly press conference Thursday. The bonds resembled municipal bonds issued by local governments in that they could be used for capital spending, working capital and refinancing old bonds. They were attractive to investors because even though the interest income was taxable, investors also received a tax credit that could be used to bring down both regular tax bill and the Alternative Minimum Tax.

Leaders of some of the world’s top climate-change sufferers, do-gooders and backsliders round out the rest of the 40 invitations being delivered Friday. The Biden administration intentionally looked beyond its international partners for the talks, an administration official said. He pulled the United States out of the 2015 U.N. Paris climate accords as one of his first actions. Another Biden administration official said the U.S. is still deciding how far the administration will go in setting a more ambitious U.S. emissions target. Biden and other administration officials have been stressing U.S. climate intentions during early one-on-one talks with foreign leaders, and Biden climate envoy John Kerry has focused on speeding up emissions cuts internationally in diplomacy abroad.

Only Twitter Inc CEO Jack Dorsey replied "yes" to the question, but said the "broader ecosystem" had to be taken into account. Lawmakers widely slammed the platforms' approach to false or dangerous content. The three companies have taken steps to curb misinformation but researchers have shown it is still widely present on the platforms. At one point in the hearing, Dorsey appeared to grow frustrated and tweeted "?" with a poll asking Twitter users to vote "yes" or "no."

(AP)A flood of mis- and disinformation, conspiracy theories and violent threats flooded social media platforms in the months leading up to a deadly assault on the US Capitol on 6 January. Baseless claims of widespread voter fraud and a persistent lie that the 2020 election was “stolen” – claims that fuelled the attack among Donald Trump’s supporters – were repeatedly flagged by social media companies on the former president’s social media accounts. Story continuesSecond-ranking House Republican Steve Scalise, who supported efforts in Congress to reject election results, accused platforms of an “anti-conservative bias”. “I believe that the former president should be responsible for his words and that the people who broke the law should be responsible for their actions,” Mr Zuckerberg said in his opening statement. “The rise of anti-Asian hate is a really big issue and something we need to be proactive about,” Mr Zuckerberg said.

Alex Wong/Getty Mitt RomneyThe same impeachment vote that drew scorn from the GOP base has now made Sen. Mitt Romney a winner of the Profile in Courage Award. Romney, 74, is the 2021 recipient of the annual Profile in Courage Award, the foundation announced on Friday. "The 2021 Profile in Courage Award goes to Senator Mitt Romney for his vote to convict President Donald J. Trump in 2020, and his consistent and courageous defense of democracy," the official announcement reads. "As the first Senator to have ever voted to convict a President of his own party, Senator Romney's courageous stand was historic." Romney twice voted to convict Trump, and several other Republicans joined him in the second trial.

Profile in Courage Romney (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)Utah Republican Senator Mitt Romney will receive the John F Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for being the only Republican to vote to impeach former President Donald Trump during his first impeachment trial in early 2020. The award is named after Mr Kennedy’s 1957 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “Profiles in Courage”. He said: “When I think of courage, I think of my Dad. Mr Romney served as the governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 before running for president in 2008 and 2012, getting the Republican nomination on his second attempt, but losing the election to Barack Obama.

In October 2019, The New York Times reported that 1.5 million packages were delivered in New York City every single day. Without strategic intervention, we will find our cities facing increasingly severe traffic problems, safety issues and polluting emissions. In this case, a simple means of assessing the problem is to observe curbside parking and street traffic using streetlight cameras. Automotus’ computer vision software is already using this model to help cities manage the aforementioned flood of commercial vehicles on their streets. Using data to optimize parking results in more efficient turnover, less time spent circling for a spot and reduced traffic delays.

About 30 million Social Security recipients who are still waiting to receive their third stimulus check could see the money arrive soon. The Social Security Administration on Thursday sent the IRS missing files that have been delaying payments for about 30 million people, the House Ways and Means Committee said in a statement. The lawmakers blamed Social Security Administration Commissioner Andrew Saul -- who was nominated by former President Donald Trump -- for the delays, which "defied congressional intent and imposed needless anxiety and pain on taxpayers." The Social Security Administration said it began working with the IRS on March 17 to transfer the necessary files. Since President Biden signed into law the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill, known as the American Rescue Plan, the IRS has already delivered checks to 127 million Americans.

The lawsuit comes less than two months after Smartmatic, another election tech company, filed a $2.7 billion lawsuit against Murdoch’s Fox Corp. and named several Fox anchors, including Maria Bartiromo and Lou Dobbs, as defendants. Fox News and its powerful owner, Rupert Murdoch, are facing a second major defamation suit over its coverage of the 2020 presidential election, a new front in the growing legal battle over media disinformation and its consequences. Fox sold a false story of election fraud in order to serve its own commercial purposes, severely injuring Dominion in the process. Fox News and Fox Business programs were among the mass-media venues where Trump’s supporters denounced Dominion. In February, two days after Smartmatic filed its suit, Fox Business canceled “Lou Dobbs Tonight,” its highest-rated program.

Associated PressBOSTON — U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney was named the recipient of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award on Friday for splitting with his party and becoming the only Republican to vote to convict former President Donald Trump during his first impeachment trial. “When I think of courage, I think of my Dad,” said the Utah Republican, who is also the former governor of Massachusetts. At Trump’s second impeachment trial, Romney was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict the former president of inciting the attack. The award was created by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation in 1989. Romney will be presented with the award, a sterling silver lantern symbolizing a beacon of hope, at a virtual ceremony in May.

By Joseph Ax | ReutersA coalition of civil rights groups has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Georgia’s sweeping new voting restrictions, arguing that the Republican-backed law is intended to make it harder for people – particularly Black voters – to cast ballots. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden – who became the first Democratic presidential candidate in three decades to win Georgia in November’s election – accused Republicans there and in other states of mounting a broad assault on voting rights. “It’s an atrocity,” Biden told reporters on Friday, shortly after comparing the restrictions to racist “Jim Crow” laws that for decades kept Black Southerners from full voting rights. Democrats and voting rights advocates decried the restrictions, which passed the legislature solely with Republican support, as a revival of racially discriminatory voting laws that will harm voters in minority communities, which are already plagued by long lines and inadequate election infrastructure. As he contested his national loss to Biden, Trump focused much of his energy in Georgia.

Spurred to action by recent violent attacks in Atlanta and the Bay Area, hundreds of protesters gathered in San Francisco on Friday to rally against anti-Asian American hate. Here are a few:Friday: “Rise up with Asians” peaceful rally.” 12:30 p.m., Union Square, San FranciscoSaturday: “Stop Asian Hate” rally. 11 a.m., meet at St. Mary’s Square, San Francisco for a vigil for the victims of the Atlanta attacks. “# Stop Asian Hate” rally. “Stop Asian Hate!

How the COVID-19 vaccines were developedThe most obvious rebuttal to Edming’s claim is that millions of Americans have been safely vaccinated. However, the same website details CDC guidance on the COVID-19 vaccines, including this: "Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines, and these vaccines have undergone the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. "The mRNA COVID-19 vaccine development was actually preceded by decades of research into understanding the efficacy and safety of mRNA vaccines and has made the COVID-19 vaccine a miracle of circumstances. It has allowed for a COVID-19 vaccine to be developed and tested much more rapidly." Our rulingIn a speech detailing his distrust of scientists and the COVID-19 vaccine, Edming said, "You can’t tell me they can (develop a safe vaccine) in eight to 10 months.

In those years, voter suppression laws, enforced by White supremacist violence, effectively kept Black men from the polls and maintained a solidly White Democratic South. Revisiting this history reminds Americans of the urgency of expanding and protecting voting rights today. In the aftermath of the Civil War, the passage of the 14th and 15th Amendments enfranchised Black men. To do so, these Democrats began whittling away at voting rights protections. The question, Republicans believed, would create a vivid testimony of the disfranchisement of ex-slaves, voters who the Republican Party knew could help sustain Reconstruction.

The number of Covid deaths in the Latin American country hit 300,000 on Wednesday amid an "unstoppable" mutant outbreak which is killing at least 100 people an hour. The country has become the global epicentre of Covid deaths, with 303,726 fatalities. "This means the collapse of the health system - this means we have reached the limit," Carlos Lula, President of the National Council of Health Secretaries, said. Meanwhile, the federal health ministry is also facing accusations of trying to manipulate death data. The health ministry came under fire last year after stopping the publication of Covid data on its website, before the decision was ordered overturned by the supreme court.

| Mario Tama/Getty Images Silicon Valley giants provide tech support in Newsom recall fightOAKLAND — Some of Silicon Valley's biggest tech names are urging Californians to reject the "politically motivated" recall drive against Gov. Although the message of support for Newsom doesn't mention funding to fight the recall, Silicon Valley insiders say that's likely the next step for many of the deep-pocketed tech executives who have written big checks in elections before. "Governor Newsom has made tough decisions to lead us through the pandemic, and we're finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel," Conway said. Some have wondered if a wealthy Silicon Valley titan might wade into the recall waters, either to drive the conversation or fulfill political ambition. Billionaire tech executive Chamath Palihapitiya, an early Facebook executive and CEO of Social Capital, donated $100,000 toward the recall drive and flirted with the idea of running for governor.

But if you act in good faith, and people believe you are honest and sincere in your intentions, you can live up to the highest of ideals. Al Smith practiced the journalism of good faith. He didn’t always succeed, but more importantly, he made the effort, and his readers knew he was a journalist of good faith, of honest intent. That is the journalism of good faith – driven by facts, not by opinion, and by a search for the truth. Unless journalism values facts first, and makes truth its only agenda, it will not be seen as acting in good faith.

Republicans and Democrats sent dueling delegations to the southern US border on Friday, in an attempt to frame perceptions of the Biden administration’s immigration policy amid an uptick in recent weeks in border crossings by undocumented migrants. In an interview earlier this week the vice-president said that she and Biden would “absolutely” visit the border in person. “US border patrol agents assigned to Del Rio sector’s marine unit rescued two migrants attempting to cross the Rio Grande, March 20,” the agency said in a statement released on Thursday. A member of the Democratic border delegation, Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, spotlighted the plight of children held in US border detention facilities. “Heading to the southern border with 7 year old Jakelin Caal on my mind,” Tlaib tweeted on Friday morning.

Trump claimed falsely that he lost Georgia due to voter fraud arising from widespread early and mail-in voting encouraged under the Covid-19 pandemic. The Georgia law also gives the Republican-controlled state legislature more power to take control of local voting operations if problems are alleged. And it says specifically that volunteers cannot distribute water or food to people waiting in line to vote. Last year, the line to vote in Smyrna, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, was hours long in muggy heat. "The Republican voters I know find this despicable," Biden said Thursday, pledging to "do everything in my power" to stop the voting restriction efforts.

China's President Xi Jinping (R) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin haven't spoken to President Joe Biden but 'know they're invited,' he saidAdvertising Read moreWashington (AFP)President Joe Biden has invited his counterparts Xi Jinping of China and Russia's Vladimir Putin to a virtual climate summit he is hosting in April, the White House announced on Friday. In all, 40 world leaders have been asked to attend the two-day meeting meant to mark Washington's return to the front lines of the fight against man-made climate change, after former president Donald Trump disengaged from the process. "They know they're invited," Biden said of Xi and Putin. The start of the summit on April 22 coincides with Earth Day, and will come ahead of a major UN meeting on climate change scheduled for November in Glasgow, Scotland. Biden kept his campaign pledge to rejoin the Paris climate agreement on his first day in the White House, after Trump pulled out of the deal.

Brian Kemp Thursday marks the beginning of a nationwide Republican effort targeting voting and election law. In Georgia, Brad Raffensperger, the top election official in the state, resisted pressure to overturn the presidential election in favor of Trump, but the new law now strips him of his chairmanship and voting power on the State Election Board. In a statement Friday, President Joe Biden echoed voting rights advocates, calling the bill "Jim Crow in the 21st Century." A Facebook video reviewed by ABC News shows Rep. Park Cannon knocking on the door where Kemp was signing the bill. Nathan Posner/ShutterstockShe faces two charges, obstruction of law enforcement and preventing or disrupting General Assembly sessions or other meetings of members, according to a statement from Georgia State Patrol obtained by ABC's Atlanta affiliate WSB.

LISTEN TO ARTICLE 1:03 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Share Tweet Post EmailPhotographer: Thomas Watkins/AFP/Getty Images Photographer: Thomas Watkins/AFP/Getty ImagesAfghanistan’s Taliban said it would resume fighting against American or other foreign forces if the U.S. misses the May 1 troop withdrawal deadline agreed in a peace deal last year. “If, God forbid, all foreign troops do not withdraw from Afghanistan on the specified date in line with the Doha agreement, undoubtedly, it will be considered a violation of the accord by America,” Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem wrote on Twitter. The former administration of President Donald Trump finalized the agreement with the Taliban in February last year in exchange for security guarantees. Following the deal, the Taliban stopped attacking U.S. forces. Biden has also promised to end the 20-year war in Afghanistan but says he wants to review the agreement.

We talk in an airless, subterranean breakroom at Safeway store 1048 in Arlington, Va., a typical, prosperous suburb of Washington, D.C. I have to pay the bills.”Heith Fenner, union rep for the workers of Safeway 1048, looks on March 5, a year into the pandemic. Like their counterparts across the country, the employees of Safeway 1048 have kept on working through a dangerous year. The workers at Safeway 1048, despite being eligible per state guidelines, had not been offered the vaccine by early March. Today, more than 6,000 Safeway workers in D.C. and the surrounding states are part of UFCW Local 400.

In the lead-up to the presidential election, many progressive groups and politicians were hyper-focused on defending the US Postal Service (USPS), as Postmaster General Louis DeJoy slowed service (and thus potentially delayed ballots). The only way to begin to defend the post office is to fire DeJoy. There’s even a post office in almost every zip code. The post office has been under attack for decades, with Republicans and centrist Democrats repeatedly trying to make the public service function like a private business. Now, he hopes to further gut the post office under the guise of shoring up its finances.

Subscribe to The Nation Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month! For more from The Nation, check out our latest issueSubscribe to The Nation Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month! Some progressives are also concerned with one of the administration’s recent hires, taking it as a troubling sign for the administration’s broader sanctions policy going forward. Erik Sperling, executive director of Just Foreign Policy, told The Nation that Nephew’s hiring “exposes a moral dilemma” for Democrats. “President Biden’s decision to review the impact of US sanctions on COVID-19 responses is a step in the right direction,” Cavan Kharrazian, foreign policy campaigner at Demand Progress, said in a statement.

On March 26, 2015, a coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates launched an ill-fated war on Houthi-led rebel forces in Yemen, inaugurating what the United Nations has described as the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophe. Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS as he’s known, the architect of the Saudi war effort, asserted that it would be a short conflict, with a swift Saudi victory. The administration has since paused two bomb sales to Saudi Arabia and ordered a review of US arms exports to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Former Obama officials, many of whom are now in the Biden administration, have since expressed regret for their administration’s support of the Saudi war effort. After six years of war, Yemen can’t wait.

In Kentucky, Republicans found that the measures taken during COVID to make voting easier, like voting by mail, helped turn out their white rural base. They’d never admit it, of course, but the Republicans approved voting “reform” legislation because it helps the GOP. Mostly rural, Bible Belt conservative Kentucky is one of the reddest of the Republican Red states. Kentucky is less than 9% African American, so Republican legislators saw no need to curb minority voting. Anyway, today’s almost all-white Bluegrass State GOP puts this historian in mind of the white supremacist Democrats who dominated state government during the Jim Crow era.

On the cusp of turning 90, Daniel Ellsberg sits in his book-and-box-cluttered office in his home in Berkeley, Calif., and prepares to discuss his life credo—and his future plans. Half a century after Ellsberg’s leaking of the Pentagon Papers, he shows no signs of slowing down. But, he continues, once he found out the newspaper was going to run the Pentagon Papers, “I was nothing but happy.”Happiness isn’t a state of mind that Ellsberg wears on his sleeve. “If the Pentagon Papers of Afghanistan come out, you could change place names and officials’ names,” he says. To get them to see the perils of nuclear war.

The race to fill retiring Ohio Republican Sen. Vance hasn’t officially entered the Ohio Senate race yet, but he already has a super PAC supporting him called Protect Ohio Values that recently received $10 million from tech entrepreneur Peter Thiel. But, as has repeatedly been the case since Trump won the Republican primary in 2016, the party refused to take it. Trump again carried Ohio easily last November, beating Biden by about the same margin as he beat Clinton four years earlier. Ultimately, however, the story of the primary to replace Portman is more about the direction of the Republican Party than it is about Ohio.

At least one member of Congress is suggesting that social media companies might need a special regulatory agency. Gretchen Whitmer because Facebook’s algorithms recommended he join the group where it was being facilitated. Can the oversight board take on Facebook’s algorithms? Some critics have already begun to say that the oversight board isn’t sufficient for regulating Facebook’s algorithms, and they want the government to institute reform. Regardless, providing oversight to social media algorithms on the scale of Facebook’s is still uncharted territory.

Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump made a deal with the Taliban requiring all American service members to leave Afghanistan at the start of May. But some experts and advocates for withdrawal cite two reasons for why Biden’s rationale rings hollow. Put together, experts say Biden’s case to the nation for why the US should remain in Afghanistan a little longer doesn’t hold up. This is why most experts I spoke to believe Biden’s decision to extend America’s military mission is about diplomacy, not military logistics. Plus, citing logistical concerns might draw less backlash from the American public than extending the military presence in search of an unlikely peace deal.

There was a time when we thought Covid-19 testing would save us from the pandemic. At the same time, many people still don’t know how testing works, what’s out there, or why — and how — they should use testing. We have vaccines now, so do we still even need testing? The FDA has now authorized two different over-the-counter at-home rapid tests. Sometimes it’s going to be a lab test; sometimes it’s going to be a rapid test.

Democrats widely denounced attempts by former President Donald Trump and his Republican enablers to overturn the result of his election. The race for Iowa’s Second Congressional District was extremely closeIowa’s Second Congressional District seat is currently occupied by Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks. Republicans wasted no time pouncing after the House Administration Committee voted to hear Hart’s challenge on March 15. “Losing a House election by six votes is painful for Democrats. Losing a House election by six votes is painful for Democrats.

State Republican lawmakers have introduced a historic number of bills this year to restrict voting rights, zeroing in on restricting mail-in voting. And despite the polling, the massive uptick in mail-in voting doesn’t appear to have been a major boost to Democrats; even where turnout increased, mail-in voting did not have a partisan slant. The history of no-excuse mail-in voting in Republican states, briefly explainedMail-in voting, or at least expanded absentee voting options, have had bipartisan support, even in many Republican-led states. But the push for mail-in voting restrictions could wind up hurting the very Republicans putting them in place. Using mail voting as the primary method for participation only increased turnout by about 2 percentage points overall.

One of the greatest challenges facing democratic societies in the 21st century is the loss of faith in public institutions. That’s what a “crisis of authority” looks like in the real world. Sean IllingHave elites — politicians, corporate actors, media and cultural elites — lost control of the world? They would have completely lost control of the world if the public in revolt had a clear program or an organization or leadership. So I was an analyst at the CIA looking around the world at open information, at the global media.

The request came in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, which allegedly involved numerous Parler users. Now Parler has responded, mounting a defense that essentially boils down to: "We aren't bad because Facebook is worse." 25, Parler attempts to paint itself as a small underdog startup being mercilessly attacked by Twitter and Facebook. "It is now well-documented and understood by honest observers that incitement occurred far more frequently on Big Tech platforms like Facebook and Twitter than Parler," wrote Parler. It isn't as though Big Tech is going unscrutinised, as Parler seems to believe.

The multinational corporation Johnson & Johnson manufactures in Europe. The problem is that not all the vaccines produced in Europe stay in Europe. Read: Britain’s vaccine nationalismEurope’s frustrations are particularly understandable with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. A multinational giant with a global supply chain, J&J produces COVID-19 vaccine in Europe and ships it to the United States for bottling. Europe learned during the Trump years that it could not count on the United States.

Brian Kemp on Thursday signed into law a series of controversial voting restrictions decried by Democrats as "Jim Crow 2.0" — and he did so alongside a group of white men and in front of a painting of a plantation where Black people were once enslaved. Republicans have said the new law will restore voters' confidence in the state's elections after Donald Trump lied about election fraud when he lost to the state to President Joe Biden. However, voting rights advocates said the law will suppress turnout among Black and brown voters who showed up in record numbers to lead Democrats to victory in the presidential and Senate elections. Among several voting restrictions, the law imposes new ID requirements for absentee ballots, criminalizes giving voters food and water while they stand in lines, hands over control of county election boards to the state’s Republican-led legislature, and limits the use of ballot drop boxes. Stacey Abrams, a leading voting rights activist and Georgia's former Democratic gubernatorial nominee, described the "voter suppression bill" as "nothing less than Jim Crow 2.0."

“In my mind, the only difference between QAnon and al-Qaeda and ISIS is that the leader of QAnon is an enigma. No.”“In my mind, the only difference between QAnon and al-Qaeda and ISIS is that the leader of QAnon is an enigma. But we were told, ‘I’m either Q or I’m with Q. Like, if crap hits the fan and they end up being right, now I’m going to be a target. And it’s like, sometimes I wonder if they think, Oh, she’s, she’s completely free and clear.

WASHINGTON - Speaker Nancy Pelosi has selected Maj. Gen. William Walker, the commander of the District of Columbia National Guard, to serve as the new House sergeant-at-arms. Walker would be the first Black American to serve as the House sergeant-at-arms, who is responsible for maintaining order in the House chamber. "It is my honor to appoint District of Columbia National Guard Major General William J. Walker to serve as the 38th Sergeant-at-Arms for the House of Representatives," Pelosi said in a statement Friday. Timothy P. Blodgett has served as the acting House sergeant-at-arms since Irving's departure. Though in most states governors select the commander of their respective National Guard, the head of D.C.'s guard is appointed by the president.

“We have all these other ways to not talk about race and white supremacy and white nationalism,” says the Rev. That’s something white Americans must wrestle with, as Chesnut sees it. “White supremacy is destroying us, too and I don’t think we talk enough about that.”Or about much having to do with whiteness. Laurissa Steadman, a conservative and a Trump supporter, says it’s easier for white Americans who are liberal to speak about their politics than it is for white conservatives. “We as white people need to be gathering up our white people.”But getting white Americans to genuinely wrestle with these issues, Jardina says, will be a struggle.

The new law removes the secretary of state from serving as chair of the State Board of Elections, giving the legislature the authority to appoint a majority of the members, and authorizes the state board to suspend local election officials. His efforts were blocked not only by dozens of judges but also by local and state election officials — including Republicans — who repeatedly refused to bow to pressure to halt the certification of the vote. ADADIn at least 43 states, Republicans and Democrats alike have proposed an unprecedented wave of legislation to alter the way elections are administered. The new law also gives the state elections board the power to suspend local election officials for violations of election rules or mismanagement and appoint a temporary superintendent. Democrats argued that giving the legislature the power to control the state board — which has oversight over the elections of the legislators themselves — creates a clear conflict of interest.

Ambassador Nikki Haley on Friday took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris, saying that she can’t be trusted to deal with the border crisis, citing a 2018 comparison the then-senator made between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Ku Klux Klan. "How can we trust Kamala Harris to deal with the border crisis when she compared ICE to the KKK in 2018?" FLASHBACK: KAMALA HARRIS COMPARED ICE TO KKK IN SENATE HEARINGHaley was referring to a contentious confirmation hearing in November 2018, when Harris asked Ronald Vitiello -- who was then-President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead ICE -- if he was "aware of the perception" of a similarity between ICE and the KKK. Are you aware of a perception that the way that they ..." Harris went on, before the nominee said, "I see none." On Wednesday, Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel tweeted: "Kamala Harris compared ICE to the KKK.

GORDON CHANG: CHINA 'MIGHT STILL HAVE LEVERAGE' OVER REP. SWALWELL AMID SPY SCANDALWenstrup also said that he doesn’t believe that the lawsuit will turn heads away from Swalwell’s previous, scandalous relationship with suspected Chinese spy Christine Fang, also known as Fang Fang. "For many, the lawsuit comes across as politically vindictive against the former president – just like Rep. Swalwell’s false narrative about the Russian collusion fiction," said Wenstrup. "At the same time, I don’t think it will divert attention away from his Chinese spy scandal." "Swalwell distracted our country for years with the Russia hoax, claiming President Trump was an agent of the Russian government. HOUSE REPUBLICANS REQUEST FBI BRIEFING ON SWALWELL TIES TO ALLEGED CHINESE SPYLast month, House Republicans requested a briefing from FBI Director Christopher Wray on Swalwell’s relationship with the alleged Chinese spy, asking to be told the "full extent" of Chinese agents targeting lawmakers.

Michael Cohen walks after leaving the Manhattan district attorney’s office on March 19, 2021 in New York City. Michael Cohen, the former personal lawyer for ex-President Donald Trump, on Friday blasted federal prosecutors for their arguments opposing his efforts to end his criminal sentence of home confinement. "This is primarily because Cohen does not have a need for purposes of lowering his risk of recidivism in any of the areas in which he completed courses or work," prosecutors wrote. "Both the Attorney General and the BOP itself have made statements supporting this interpretation," Cohen wrote. "There is genuine urgency to this issue," Cohen wrote.

(CNN) President Joe Biden will hold his first press conference on Thursday from the White House. He has comfortably exceeded his campaign goal on vaccines and that deserves the pomp and circumstance of a full White House press conference. I expect Biden will acknowledge the great work done on vaccines while focusing most of his attention on what comes next. There will be snap judgement of great import from the media and aggressive spin from the White House staff. The reality is, even if one side makes a big mistake, it will only be real news until the next press conference or big event.

President Joe Biden on Friday condemned the sweeping new voting restrictions in Georgia as "outrageous," "un-American" and "Jim Crow in the 21st Century." “This is Jim Crow in the 21st Century,” Biden said, calling on Congress to enact protections. Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams, founder of the voting rights group Fair Fight, said in a statement Thursday that the law was "blatantly unconstitutional" and "nothing less than Jim Crow 2.0." Her organization, a nonpartisan group that aims to register and engage new voters, is suing state election officials over the law. He pressured Republican election officials to investigate and dismissed their claims that the election was secure and that the results were accurate.

The Associated Press checked them out. ADVERTISEMENT— Associated Press writer Jude Joffe-Block in Phoenix contributed this report. ADVERTISEMENT— Associated Press writer Beatrice Dupuy in New York contributed this report. — Associated Press writer Ali Swenson in Seattle contributed this report. Emily Kuhn, senior director of communications at CNN Digital Worldwide, confirmed in an email to The Associated Press that the banner was fabricated and didn’t match the network’s font.

Latino voters who have been hard hit by the pandemic could be a key group of voters in Newsom's potential recall election. Latino voters who have been hard hit by the pandemic could be a key group of voters in Newsom's potential recall election. Gavin Newsom as he fights for his political life in a likely recall election driven by criticism of his handling of the health crisis. “Latino voters are incredibly important to our campaign, to Kevin personally, and to our pathway to victory,” he said. For both sides, the key will be to connect their outreach to Latino voters’ individual experiences, she said.

Last spring, a common purpose among far-right activists and the anti-vaccination movement first emerged during armed protests in numerous state capitols against coronavirus lockdown measures. With their protests continuing, far-right groups deployed many of the same talking points as the vaccination opponents. Maligning the coronavirus vaccines is obviously not limited to extremist groups tied to the Capitol riot. The raw, incomplete VAERS statistics are meant for scientists and medical professionals, but are widely used among extremist groups to try to undermine confidence in the vaccine. Eventually, hundreds of millions of Americans will be vaccinated, they noted, and vaccine skepticism is not the same thing as being anti-vaccination.

A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. Here are the facts:___Pfizer CEO received his company's vaccine — he didn't refuse itCLAIM: The CEO of Pfizer refuses to get the COVID vaccine. “Vice President Harris has made very clear her respect and admiration for the men and women of the military, as well as their families,” Kirby said. According to Army regulation, the president as the commander-in-chief is required to receive a salute, but there is no requirement that the vice president receive a salute. “Some are trying to suggest the Vice President lacks respect for our military – this could not be further from the truth,” Sabrina Singh, deputy press secretary to the vice president, said in a statement.

“If they're successful in doing that then certainty the Latino vote could be persuaded to vote for the recall," Alvarado said. The issues on which Faulconer is targeting Newsom — school closures, the shuttering of businesses and job losses — matter to Latino voters, campaign manager Stephen Puetz said. “Latino voters are incredibly important to our campaign, to Kevin personally, and to our pathway to victory,” he said. For both sides, the key will be to connect their outreach to Latino voters’ individual experiences, she said. Race and ethnicity isn't a factor in determining where those doses go but the effort overlays heavily with Latino communities in Southern and Central California.

Gavin Newsom on Wednesday nominated state Assemblyman Rob Bonta, who is known for pushing criminal justice reform, to be the next attorney general in the nation’s most populous state. “I cannot think of a single policy area in public life that the California attorney general can't exercise some influence over." She said California's attorney general should take on more independent investigations of police killings of Black people and to otherwise stand up for communities of color. She also suggested the attorney general help facilitate the reopening of cases where people have been wrongfully incarcerated. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Rob Bonta tapped as new California attorney general by Gavin Newsom

Subscribe for free.HighlightsOn immigration: Biden rejected the notion that the surge in migrants at the U.S. border is because he's a "nice guy" who is soft on immigration, insisting that the uptick is cyclical and "happens every year. "He said that immigration agencies are "building back up the capacity that should have been maintained and built upon that Trump dismantled," stressing: "It's going to take time. "On North Korea: Biden said that North Korea violated a UN resolution by testing two ballistic missiles on Wednesday night, and said he's consulting with U.S. allies about a response if the situation escalates.Biden said he agrees with President Obama's 2017 warning to President Trump that the nuclear threat from North Korea is the No. "Second, that "we'll have strong competition but we'll insist that China play by the essential international rules: fair competition, fair practices, fair trade. Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free.

Fox News is sued by Dominion Voting Systems, which is seeking at least $1.6 billion in damages. Dominion Voting Systems filed a lawsuit against Fox News, charging the Fox Corp. (FOXA) - Get Report division falsely said that the company rigged the 2020 presidential election and that its software and algorithms manipulated the vote count. Shares of the New York media company were off 11% to $35.85 at last check. "They saw Fox as insufficiently supportive of President Trump, including because Fox was the first network to declare that President Trump lost Arizona," the complaint said. "So Fox set out to lure viewers back -- including President Trump himself -- by intentionally and falsely blaming Dominion for President Trump’s loss by rigging the election."

Why pay union dues & give up stock options for nothing? Elon Musk tweet ruled illegal by NLRBAdvertisementThe NLRB found Tesla guilty of “coercively interrogating” three employees over unionizing activities and illegally firing one and disciplining another. Advertisement“Why pay union dues & give up stock options for nothing?” Musk tweeted on May 20, 2018 — the tweet the NLRB ordered deleted. But why pay union dues & give up stock options for nothing? (Tesla argued unsuccessfully in a legal filing that Musk was exercising his free speech rights through the tweet.)

President Biden on Friday denounced a new Georgia law that would make it harder to vote in the state, one of many Republican efforts across the country to restrict access to ballot boxes. “It must end.”The new Georgia law, signed by Republican Gov. The law also makes it a crime to distribute food or water to voters waiting in line to cast ballots. Biden has pledged to get involved in state-level battles over voting rights. AdvertisementThree voting rights groups, represented by Democratic Party lawyer Marc Elias, have already sued over Georgia’s law.

Mineral wealth (oil, gas, and coal, but also copper, cobalt, and other naturally occurring materials) has long been something of a poison gift, and not just because of the environmental consequences. With a country like Venezuela, for example, the state owns the mineral rights and profits go straight into government coffers. AdvertisementPresident Biden is calling for 100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035, and net zero emissions by 2050. Right now, 63 percent of US electricity depends on fossil fuels, and overall, 80 percent of US energy consumption is oil, gas, and coal. Maine, for example, gets 80 percent of its electricity from renewable energy and produces no coal, oil, or gas.

Oregon brothers Matthew Leland Klein and Jonathanpeter Allen Klein, who are accused of storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, were ordered Friday to be held in custody pending trial on six felony charges. “The exact example of what the court gave is what the defendant has done,” Faruqui said during Jonathanpeter Klein’s hearing. He was actively involved,” Faruqui ruled during Jonathanpeter Klein’s hearing. The Klein brothers were living with their parents in South America until February 2020. Their parents lived as missionaries in Argentina and Chile, where Jonathanpeter Klein volunteered as a translator, Sweet said.

The Biden administration intentionally looked beyond its international partners for the talks, an administration official said. He pulled the United States out of the 2015 U.N. Paris climate accords as one of his first actions. Another Biden administration official said the U.S. is still deciding how far the administration will go in setting a more ambitious U.S. emissions target. That includes two countries – Russia and China – that Biden and his diplomats are clashing against, over election interference, cyber attacks, human rights and other issues. Biden and other administration officials have been stressing U.S. climate intentions during early one-on-one talks with foreign leaders, and Biden climate envoy John Kerry has focused on speeding up emissions cuts internationally in diplomacy abroad.

Someone asked Weiser about “witches in our own party.”He said: "Ma’am, other than assassination, I have no other way other than voting out. That’s how you beat people.”Weiser's spokesman, Ted Goodman, said Weiser made it clear that it is up to voters to determine GOP nominees through the primary process. Weiser, a major Republican donor, personally gave money to both Upton, a longtime congressman, and Meijer — now a freshman representative — in 2020. Goodman did not address Weiser's “witches” comment. Bobby Leddy, a spokesman for Whitmer, said such rhetoric is “destructive and downright dangerous” given the increase in death threats against elected officials, the kidnapping charges and the Capitol siege.

Iraq’s Balad Air Base, home of the country’s F-16 program, was running out of fuel at the worst possible time. Sallyport’s leadership contains a roster of former military and intelligence brass, and it has won around $2 billion in Pentagon-awarded contracts at the Iraqi air base since 2014. On Cruz’s recommendation, the contractor turned to an Iraqi company, Layth al-Bawadi, to supply fuel. Despite open hostilities, at Balad Air Base, sources outlined a secret relationship far deeper than either side would care to admit. If there were no stealth occupation, there would be no military and logistics contracts for insurgent leaders and military contractors to profit from, and no economic incentive to continue fighting.

Doocy argued Fox News was the only one of the five network pool of reporters not called on by the president during Thursday's press conference. Fox News was not the only major news organization President Biden did not call on in his 62 minute press conference on Thursday. Biden also used a list of reporters when he took questions at his campaign Q&As. Images taken during President Joe Biden's first press conference on Thursday showed him using cheat sheets. Biden often teased the tall Fox News reporter, the son of Fox News host Steve Doocy.

We are governing, living with the Republican Party we have, not the Republican Party many might want. So what is that Republican Party, the real Republican Party, the Republican Party that that loves Donald Trump and wants to see him run again, what does that Republican Party believe? Some of the ideas about the Republican Party that make me most pessimistic, that’s out of her analysis. We’re doing all of those things Republicans said were going to make my generation more conservative. But it really diagnosis that the Republican Party is going to struggle if it doesn’t speak to the concerns of working class Americans.

(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)BOSTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney was named the recipient of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award on Friday for splitting with his party and becoming the only Republican to vote to convict former President Donald Trump during his first impeachment trial. “When I think of courage, I think of my Dad,” said the Utah Republican, who is also the former governor of Massachusetts. After the Jan. 6 attempted insurrection by Trump’s supporters at the U.S. Capitol, Romney called on his fellow Republican senators to stand up for the truth about the election. At Trump’s second impeachment trial, Romney was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict the former president of inciting the attack. Romney will be presented with the award, a sterling silver lantern symbolizing a beacon of hope, at a virtual ceremony in May.

Georgia state troopers on Thursday pulled a state lawmaker out of the Capitol and arrested her after she protested the governor as he signed sweeping voting restrictions into law. After she knocks again, troopers arrest her and then lead her by her arms out of the Capitol. “I am a legislator”: Georgia State Representative Park Cannon identified herself as a lawmaker as she was arrested Thursday night after protesting a voting bill that voting rights groups believe will make it harder for communities of color to cast their ballots. Lawmakers in at least 43 states have proposed voting restrictions in response to the 2020 election, and Georgia is one of several that has already passed major limits into law. President Biden indirectly called out Georgia in his first press conference, alluding to its voting bills and calling GOP voting restrictions "sick" and "un-American."

The Biden administration intentionally looked beyond its international partners for the talks, an administration official said. He pulled the United States out of the 2015 U.N. Paris climate accords as one of his first actions. Another Biden administration official said the U.S. is still deciding how far the administration will go in setting a more ambitious U.S. emissions target. That includes two countries — Russia and China — that Biden and his diplomats are clashing against, over election interference, cyber attacks, human rights and other issues. Biden and other administration officials have been stressing U.S. climate intentions during early one-on-one talks with foreign leaders, and Biden climate envoy John Kerry has focused on speeding up emissions cuts internationally in diplomacy abroad.

That really struck a nerve.”Across the nation, such attacks, part of a rising wave of anti-Asian incidents over the past year, have shocked many Asian Americans. “As an Asian American born and raised here, I have never felt that in my entire life. “One of the interesting things I’ve been hearing is that this is the first time that Asian Americans have being asked to share their stories in their workplaces,” said Aarti Kohli, executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus, a national legal advocacy group. Raising levels of political involvement and representation is among the goals for national Asian American leaders, too. Kohli, of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, said that while having Asian Americans in political leadership roles is important, those leaders will ultimately be judged on their actions.

A group of government transparency organizations wrote to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday protesting the media’s lack of access. It declared “untenable” DHS’s invocation of pandemic safety as a justification for denying access to border facilities. The situation at the border has been in the news for weeks, and media organizations have repeatedly appealed for access to border facilities. ADADPolitico Playbook on Wednesday attempted to cast some perspective on the Biden border blockade against the media. There were indeed moments when the Trump administration invited media organizations to tour border facilities, but reporters pounded Playbook with examples of Trump appointees hassling reporters on immigration stories.

Howie Kurtz on the press giving President Biden a fairly easy time in his first press conference since taking office, his answers and reaction to them and former President Trump speaking on the capitol hill riot. Follow Howie on Twitter: @HowardKurtzFor more #MediaBuzz click here

Former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany told the "Fox News Rundown" podcast that President Joe Biden is not being held to the same standard by the White House press corps. McEnany said, with a few exceptions, the questions asked to Biden represented a lower bar than what President Trump faced in his combative sessions with reporters. ARI FLEISCHER RIPS BIDEN OVER BORDER ACCESS COMMENTS: LIKE A 'CO-CONSPIRATOR HIDING EVIDENCE'KAYLEIGH MCENANY: There was a very low bar for President Biden. And then she followed up after that question and the question prior to her as well from ABC similarly kind of put President Biden in a spot on immigration. To hear the full interview, subscribe and download The FOX News Rundown on your favorite podcast player.

And yet Biden can do more to combat our interconnected pandemics of race and gender inequality and Covid-19. I coined the term " Color of Covid " in an CNN op-ed published last year to think critically about the race and gender justice paradoxes the pandemic unmasks. Women, especially of color, face a similar duality -- what I call the " Gender of Covid ." Looking forward, the Biden administration should take additional steps to address the race and gender structural inequalities that the pandemic unmasked. Beyond tech jobs, green jobs will become increasingly significant (because of climate change) and need to be made more equitable.

And yet President Joe Biden's administration just can't take the first step when it comes to the crisis unfolding on our southern border. In February, the US Customs and Border Protection says it tracked over 100,000 migrants crossing the southern border, almost a 30% increase over January. Now in office, laughably, Biden and his Department of Homeland Security secretary are trying to put the genie back in the bottle. Biden is telling migrants not to come, and Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says the "border is closed." However, the bell cannot be unrung, and Biden's first crisis as President is at hand -- whether he admits it or not.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Biden administration said Friday it wants new public input on establishing licensing or other procedures to help companies comply with a sweeping new rule targeting Chinese technology firms. FILE PHOTO: Chinese and U.S. flags flutter near The Bund, before U.S. trade delegation meet their Chinese counterparts for talks in Shanghai, China July 30, 2019. REUTERS/Aly SongOn Monday, the U.S. Commerce Department allowed a regulation issued under then President Donald Trump in January to take effect over objections from U.S. business groups. Days before Trump left office in January, the Commerce Department issued interim final rules aimed at addressing information and communications technology supply (ICTS) chain concerns posed by China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and VenezuelaThe regulation said Commerce would adopt licensing or other pre-clearance procedures by May 19. “It has become apparent additional public input is needed,” the Commerce Department said Friday, adding it “is seeking input into several aspects of a potential voluntary licensing or pre-clearance process.”The rule stemmed from a 2019 Trump executive order that said foreign adversaries were “creating and exploiting vulnerabilities in information and communications technology and services … in order to commit malicious cyber-enabled actions, including economic and industrial espionage.”“It gives me some comfort they’re going to take their time and do it in a very thoughtful and methodical way,” said Washington-based lawyer Judith Lee, who specializes in international trade.

The most glaring error of fact was on that last point: Biden said he’d be traveling to Pittsburgh on Friday when the White House had it on the schedule for Wednesday. Biden took follow-up questions, asked if reporters were getting what they needed. Unlike Trump, Biden doesn’t make it up as he goes. He sent assignment editors spiraling when he took questions on the South Lawn before boarding Marine One. Trump did his best to bulldoze Biden and his family while Biden simply appealed to the idealism of America’s soul.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Joe Biden is “worried” about a set of sweeping new voting restrictions approved in the state of Georgia, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to reporters as he holds his first formal news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., March 25, 2021. A Black Georgia state representative, Park Cannon, was arrested and released after knocking on the door to Kemp’s office as he signed the law. Psaki said anyone who saw a video of the arrest would be “deeply concerned” by the actions of law enforcement. Democrats just months ago celebrated historic wins in the presidential election and two Senate campaigns in Georgia that helped deliver the White House and U.S. Senate control to their party in Washington.

That issue focus is derived, in large part, from the experiences that Miller and fellow Trump veterans confronted during the last administration. Former President Donald Trump was no stranger to legal challenges during his time in office. And on Wednesday, a 14-state coalition sued the Biden administration over its attempt to pause new oil and gas leases on public lands. “What we saw during the Trump administration was numerous lawsuits because we didn’t go through the formal process. Miller isn’t the only former Trump official using his executive branch experience to add a new entity to the conservative political landscape.

“It’s time for the Biden administration to put an end to it, and stop sanctioning lawless chaos on our southern border,” Cruz said. Live footage from the banks of the Rio Grande.#BidenBorderCrisis pic.twitter.com/aO4EyANrRQ — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 26, 2021We encountered human traffickers & cartel members tonight, yelling at us across the Rio Grande and preparing to cross. — David Weissman (@davidmweissman) March 26, 2021Ted Cruz lost power in his $2M mansion for 24 hours and fled to Cancun. Now he’s standing on the shores of the Rio Grande fear-mongering about mothers and babies looking for safety from gang violence. https://t.co/kp4RjgphQc — chris evans (@chris_notcapn) March 26, 2021Here we see Ted Cruz illegally crossing the border to go on vacation while Texas was suffering a huge ice storm.

POLITICO Playbook PM: Senators seek answers on Hunter Biden gun incident Presented by FacebookTop GOP senators including Chuck Grassley of Iowa have asked agencies to respond to their questions by April 8. | Win McNamee/Getty ImagesBREAKING: A pair of Republican senators sent letters to federal law enforcement agencies seeking more information about an October 2018 incident involving HUNTER BIDEN and a discarded gun that we wrote about Thursday. And in reality, almost a year after the popular program’s launch, Congress, the Biden administration and even small-business advocates have no firm estimate of how many jobs it saved. Will the Biden Administration embrace it, or cut it loose?”STAFFING UP — “A Biden Administration Strategy: Send In the Scientists,” NYT: “More than a decade ago, a woman at a bar near the Columbia University campus turned to Gavin Schmidt and asked if he knew the main component of air. She most recently has covered DOJ, the White House and more at CBS.

In the two years since the office-sharing company’s failed IPO, a new way to launch a stock on Wall Street has become fashionable: SPACs. Special purpose acquisition companies have been embraced by big institutions and small-pocketed investors alike. The goal is to use those millions of dollars to take a private company public without using the traditional initial public offering process that’s been around for decades. Management has a financial incentive to find an acquisition target — most often management receives a 20% stake in the newly public company. An exchange-traded fund consisting of SPACs and companies taken public through SPAC acquisitions, the Defiance Next Gen SPAC fund, jumped 55% between early November and mid-February.

EXPLAINER: Why is media access at the border an issue? WHY HAS MEDIA ACCESS BEEN BLOCKED? The Associated Press, for example, has asked Homeland Security officials for access to Border Patrol facilities at least seven times, without a response. Some of them aren’t coming from the professional media but from people with special access. The customs locations are considered much more crowded, and journalists have still not been allowed access to them.

And in the '80s, Haitians were blamed for bringing HIV/AIDS to the U.S., a theory that's considered unsubstantiated by many global health experts. Some public health practitioners say the global health system is partially responsible for perpetuating these ideas. A Racist History In Global HealthFor Karan, though, the problem lies deeper — with the colonialist history of global health systems. The public health community can start by talking more about the historic racism and atrocities that have been tied to diseases. "Public health people know there is a history of racializing diseases and targeting particular groups," says Hswen.

"I still think the most likely ideology of this pathogen in Wuhan was from a laboratory, you know, escaped," Robert Redfield, who headed the CDC in the Trump administration, said in a televised interview with CNN. "It's not unusual for respiratory pathogens that are being worked on in a laboratory to infect a laboratory worker," he said. U.S. infectious disease chief Anthony Fauci, who served in the Trump administration and now serves under President Joe Biden, said most public health officials disagree with the Chinese lab theory, when asked about Redfield's comments during a White House COVID-19 briefing. A World Health Organization report on its investigation into the origins of the coronavirus is expected soon. The head of the WHO-led team in February said bats remain a likely source and effectively ruled out a lab leak.

The number of people filing for unemployment insurance fell by 97,000 this week, hitting the lowest level in a year. “The labor market is going to rip in March,” Neil Dutta of Renaissance Macro Research wrote in a March 24 analysis. “I am seeing several U.S. labor market indicators inflect meaningfully higher, indicating that the U.S. labor market really is picking up steam right now.”Those indicators include spikes in temporary staffing, regional job levels and Google mobility data. The Oxford Economics “recovery tracker” hit the highest level this week since the forecasting firm rolled out the tool last year. But this week Biden said he was raising his goal to 200 million shots in the same time frame.

The Dallas Literary Festival will bring together a bevy of writers, from here and elsewhere, on March 26 to 28 for diverse programs focusing on a topical theme: turbulence. Dallas author Sanderia Faye Smith appears outside her home in Dallas on March 17, 2021. “We want to bridge the gap between the university and community,” says Smith, the director of the Dallas Literary Festival. (Ben Torres)The three-day event revives the SMU Literary Festival, which took place from 1975 to the late 1990s, and several years in the subsequent decades. “And I see this literary festival as a ray of hope here in Dallas.”DetailsAdmission is free; full lineup and details at dallasliteraryfestival.org

State Sen. Antonio Munoz on Friday denounced a member of the far-right Proud Boys who was present for the riot at the U.S. Capitol and now plans to challenge the Chicago Democrat in next year’s election. Edgar “Remy Del Toro” Gonzalez told the Sun-Times this week that he intends to run as an independent against Munoz, whose 1st District covers portions of the South and West sides. “This isn’t a campaign announcement.”Gonzalez previously led the Chicago chapter of the Proud Boys and is still affiliated with its overarching Northern Illinois contingent. Asked about the statement from Munoz, Gonzalez, who is also Latino, said the senator made a “big mistake throwing the racist card.”But he didn’t immediately respond directly to the harsh criticism about his attending the Jan. 6 insurrection. At one point, he was seen standing near Joseph Biggs, a Proud Boys leader who is now facing federal charges, including conspiracy, for his alleged role in the assault on the Capitol.

Nevada senators have selected members of a commission that will vet candidates for nomination to two open judicials seats that have been vacant for so long, they have been declared judicial emergencies. Last year, Judge Jennifer Togliatti was nominated by former President Donald Trump to one two vacant Nevada judicial seats. (Review-Journal file photo)WASHINGTON — Nevada senators have selected members of a commission that will vet candidates for nomination to two open judicials seats that have been vacant for so long, they have been declared judicial emergencies. Two of Nevada’s seven judicial seats are vacant, one since 2016 and the other since 2018. The judicial commission finalized by the senators has seven members on each panel.

Education, of course, doesn’t necessarily equate to braininess — the Florida governor who thought that it would be a great idea to host mighty hordes of spring breakers during a pandemic has degrees from Yale and Harvard. But the new Republican voters have embraced some astoundingly ignorant beliefs. Another Pew poll conducted earlier this month found that 24% of Republicans hold a “favorable view” of wacko QAnon theories, compared to 6% of Democrats. Folks who believe that Donald Trump was God’s chosen savior to take down the Satanic-worshiping pedophiles who rule the globe, that Bill Gates is injecting microchips into our brains, that COVID is a hoax and that Trump will return to the White House on March 4, 2021 — oops — won’t give Republicans much of an intellectual edge come election day.

“So this is absolutely an open border situation.”Lankford was in McClellan, Texas, with other Republican senators on a trip organized by Texas Sens. “This is where families are actually coming and unaccompanied minors will just show up here during the night,” he said. “It’s obvious to just about everyone outside of Washington that the situation at our southern border is a crisis,” Inhofe said in a speech on Wednesday on the Senate floor. The U.S. Army post was used in 2014, during the Obama administration, for unaccompanied minors who had crossed the southern border. According to numerous media reports, the Biden administration has not allowed reporters into the overcrowded facilities at the southern border and has not allowed agents to discuss the numbers of people crossing the border.

NEW YORK (AP) — Access to government-run facilities housing young immigrants on the border with Mexico has caused one of the first tussles between news organizations and the two-month-old administration of Joe Biden. WHY HAS MEDIA ACCESS BEEN BLOCKED? News organizations say they have repeatedly sought access and been blocked. The Associated Press, for example, has asked Homeland Security officials for access to Border Patrol facilities at least seven times, without a response. The Biden administration has pointed to the need to establish safeguards for COVID-19 transmission and protecting the privacy of children as they work to set up their system for processing migrants.

Read more:Mr Gibbons extolled his financial support for Mr Trump’s campaign, and Mr Moreno noted that his daughter had worked on it in 2020. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy noticeAt the primaries stage, this sees potential GOP candidates pitted against each other, and Mr Trump is not averse to making things awkward. The former White House aide is attempting to unseat Anthony Gonzalez, one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Mr Trump.

The White House is defending a Georgia state lawmaker who was arrested outside Gov. She was being held at the Fulton County jail, said an email from a Georgia State Patrol spokesperson, Lieut W. Mark Riley. The bill passed the state House 100-75, before the state Senate quickly agreed to House changes, 34-20. 'The Republican voters I know find this despicable, Republican voters, the folks outside this White House. The law requires a photo ID in order to vote absentee by mail, after more than 1.3 million Georgia voters used that option during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bairstow (124) and Stokes (99) put on 175 for the second wicket and smashed 17 sixes between them as England romped home in 43.3 overs with six wickets to spare in Pune. "It was some of the most amazing batting you'll see when chasing," India skipper Virat Kohli said of the England onslaught. Kohli and Rahul put on 121 for the second wicket to lay the foundations of India's challenging total. Rahul, who made an unbeaten 62 in India's win in the opening game on Tuesday, reached his fifth ODI hundred. Pant reached his fifty with a six and smashed seven sixes in his 40-ball blitz.

Share this Story: Dominion Voting Systems files $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox NewsDominion Voting Systems files $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News The lawsuit alleges top Fox personalities hosted guests that spread lies about Dominion then amplified those false claims Photo by Shannon Stapleton / ReutersArticle content WILMINGTON — Dominion Voting Systems Corp said it filed a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News on Friday, accusing it of trying to boost its ratings by falsely claiming the company rigged the 2020 U.S. presidential election against Donald Trump. Try refreshing your browser, or Dominion Voting Systems files $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News Back to video The lawsuit follows similar cases against Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell and the Republican former president’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, according to Shackelford. Dominion, which describes itself as the leading supplier of U.S. election technology, said it filed the lawsuit in Delaware state court. In its lawsuit, Dominion said Fox News tried to draw viewers loyal to Trump by amplifying those false claims, including assertions that Dominion’s systems changed votes despite efforts by the voting systems company to set the record straight. The lawsuit alleges top Fox personalities hosted guests such as Powell to spread lies about Dominion and then repeated and amplified those false claims.

The Post Office used to be one of the best-run and most popular agencies in the American government. But under the leadership of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, on-time delivery has plummeted, wreaking havoc on both individuals and businesses. President Biden must get rid of DeJoy and replace him with someone who can undo the damage to the Post Office. The president is not allowed to simply fire the postmaster general, who is appointed by the USPS board of governors. (This would be a good opportunity to modernize the Post Office, which is badly needed.)

Democrats and advocates on Friday slammed Georgia's new voting restrictions that will result in drastic changes to the state's election process, including making it illegal to give voters water or food when they're in line to cast a ballot. The 98-page law also adds additional voter ID requirements to mail voters, shortening state runoffs and limiting the required early voting for those runoffs. "Now the GOP makes it a crime to give water to people standing in long lines THEY CREATED." The legislation also gives the state legislature far more control over county-level election administration, by allowing them to appoint the chair of the State Election Board, which can step in and takeover county election administration. Her organization, a nonpartisan group that aims to register and engage new voters, is suing state election officials over the law, signed by Republican Gov.

Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock Raphael WarnockWarnock visits Georgia state Rep. Cannon at jail after arrest: 'She did not deserve this' Bernice King calls Georgia lawmaker's arrest over protesting voting bill 'despicable' Georgia state lawmaker arrested protesting Kemp's signing of sweeping voting bill MORE on Friday blasted a sweeping bill to tighten voting rules in the state, a day after it was signed by Georgia Gov. Warnock, speaking to reporters in Georgia, called the GOP bill an attempt to "arrest the voices and the votes of the people. The legislation also gives the Georgia State Elections Board the ability to effectively take over county elections boards in areas that it determines are in need of oversight. Warnock said Republicans were trying to "cherry-pick their voters," adding that "our democracy is in a 911 emergency." The clash in Georgia over voting rights comes as Senate Democrats are touting a sweeping election reform bill and a separate bill to strengthen the Voting Rights Act.

The United States will remove all of its troops from Afghanistan likely this year, President Joe Biden declared unequivocally on Thursday, but not by the May 1 deadline outlined in the peace agreement with the Taliban signed under the previous administration. The question is when we leave,” Biden said at the White House, on Thursday. Biden first appeared to indicate the U.S. may stay in Afghanistan, saying, “If we leave, we’re going to do so in a safe and orderly way.” But he quickly stated with emphasis his declaration that the U.S. will leave. Biden previously has said he favors retaining the U.S. military’s ability to conduct limited counterterrorism missions in the world’s lingering war zones, like Afghanistan, rather than keeping large forces deployed. “It is clear the Taliban have not upheld what they said they would do and reduce the violence.

Letting unaccompanied minors into the United States is not actually a Biden Administration policy. The news of the past two weeks has been full of dire warnings about a "border crisis." (Remember the migrant caravan from Central America President Trump claimed was coming to "invade" the United States back in 2018? But they don't represent a crisis for the U.S. government, which can and will process them and reunite them with relatives in the United States. Furthermore, she points out, letting unaccompanied minors into the United States is not actually a Biden Administration policy.

The right has declared a crisis, and national corporate media have largely followed suit. But as Mayorkas made the rounds on the Sunday shows, the hosts stuck to a script based on GOP talking points that emphasized whether the administration’s messaging was driving a border crisis. But it’s more than that: It’s a political crisis for the new president, with no easy way out. And defining the border situation as a “political crisis” is their way of adopting right-wing talking points that aim at denting Biden’s high approval ratings, rather than at addressing a humanitarian emergency. Indeed, corporate media seem eager for ratings-boosting controversy and crisis.

Harrington and others believed that, if "Southern racists and certain other corruptive elements" could be pushed out, the Democratic Party could resemble something like a mainstream European social democratic party. Through the following two decades, Harrington and other leftists continued their push to empower progressives within the Democratic Party. Second, the concept orients the realigners toward working within the Democratic Party, but also toward being in conflict with others inside the party's big tent. In his classic 1942 study on democratic politics, E. E. Schattsneider described a political party as "an organized attempt to get control of the government." Contemporary political scientist Daniel Schlozman adds, "Because political parties organize social conflict … they also structure the possibilities for movements to achieve ongoing influence."

This is a vaccine that is going to be lifesaving for millions of people. How some groups would not want to do it for reasons that I just don’t understand,” Fauci told Todd. While messaging on vaccine safety has been focused on possible hesitancy among certain racial groups, recent polling suggests the divide could be greater between political groups. (Ad Council)Any push by Trump “would make all the difference in the world,” Fauci said on “Fox News Sunday.”AD“He’s a very widely popular person among Republicans,” he added. ADHe also urged people to trust in the vaccines’ safety and effectiveness and encouraged people to talk to family, friends and neighbors about getting the shots when it’s their turn.

x Vimeo VideoIf you’re one of the 49% (or more) of Republican men who are not planning on getting a COVID-19 vaccine, consider getting “Freedom Jab” instead! Scientists and public health experts say “vaccine,” but you can call it Freedom Jab if that makes you feel better. As we (hopefully) reemerge from this horrible pandemic, multiple polls show Republican men as the most vaccine-hesitant of any group polled. If so many Republicans keep refusing to get vaccinated, we’ll be in for more lockdowns, masks and deaths. Get your Freedom Jab as soon as you can — and remember, you can support my cartooning by becoming a patron over on my Patreon pages!

It was zero threat. Right from the start it was zero threat. x Here's what Trump had to say on Fox tonight about the Capitol riots:"It was zero threat, right from the start... But what's truly disgraceful is that Trump thinks the Capitol rioters posed "zero threat" as they rampaged through the seat of America's democracy. Zero threat.

But if you’ve decided to plead indigence (under oath, no less) in order to lower your child support payments, well, that’s another story. The Florida court records show that Miller made other misleading or false statements under oath in the case of his faux firing in multiple instances. If Trump were still president, Miller would probably get the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and “child abandonment” would be printed on the citation. But the former guy is, well, former, which means Miller is more or less on his own. Thanks to Goodbye, Asshat: 101 Farewell Letters to Donald Trump, Dear F*cking Lunatic, Dear Pr*sident A**clown and Dear F*cking Moron, you can purge the Trump years from your soul sans the existential dread.

As i have not received the $1,400 I assumed it was because I haven’t filed with the IRS in years, because my sole income was a modest Social Security payment, I assumed that I was not eligible because of some rule change put in by Sen Manchin, But it turns out, I probably won’t get the payment because of two ‘clingon’ Trump trolls left in charge of the Social Security Administration, why are they still there? Why haven’t the US Marshalls escorted those sadists out of their offices?

We know that housing discrimination contributes significantly to the racial and ethnic wealth gaps in our country. As per Demos, “median Black wealth would grow $17,113 and the wealth gap between Black and white households would shrink 16%. Much of the theft was legal, if sickeningly immoral, at the time the reverse Robin Hoods of real estate were doing the actual stealing. Housing discrimination goes beyond the walls of housing.” Carr added: “This investigation didn’t target any one real estate company, it targeted an entire real estate sector. Housing discrimination is exacerbating racial and economic segregation.”As Carr notes, this goes beyond housing.

Democratic Candidate for Florida Agriculture Commissioner, Ryan Morales, Seeks to Distribute COVID-19 PCR Testing to Florida Schools and CollegesRyan Morales Partners With ProPhase Labs for Quick, Non-invasive Saliva Collection for PCR Testing That Can Detect COVID-19, Its Variants, and Influenza Viral StrainsCLERMONT, FL, March 26, 2021 -- Democratic candidate for Florida Agriculture Commissioner, Ryan Morales has teamed up with ProPhase Labs (NASDAQ symbol PRPH) to provide non-invasive COVID-19 PCR testing for Florida students. Mr. Morales seeks to connect with schools all across Florida to provide them with this additional layer of COVID-19 protection. The Company’s laboratory testing subsidiary, ProPhase Diagnostics, offers SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and COVID-19 viral mutation PCR tests through both saliva and nasal swab methods at its CLIA certified laboratories. For more information, visit www.ProPhaseLabs.comAbout Ryan Morales for FL Agriculture CommissionerMore information about Ryan Morales and his campaign for Florida Agriculture Commissioner may be found on his website, RyanForFlorida.com . Information about ProPhase Labs and their COVID testing techniques can be found on www.prophaselabs.com/lab-processing/Donate-CRYPTO BitPayCheck out Ryan’s bookHOW TO DERAIL THE TRUMP TRAIN — AMAZON

Black Lawmaker Arrested as White Only Crowd Watches Georgia Governor Sign Voter Suppression Law. Six White Georgia lawmakers stood behind GOP Gov. Brian Kemp Thursday night as he signed a sweeping voter suppression law. Despite all of this evidence, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says with a straight face that Republicans are not passing voter suppression laws. Try telling that to the Black Georgia legislator who got put in handcuffs and jail for daring to knock on the door of the White Only bill signing ceremony at the Georgia state Capitol.

West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy is Now Open! 8am-9am PT/ 11am-Noon ET for our especially special Daily Specials; Blue Moon Spirits Fridays! Starting off in the Bistro Cafe, Trump claimed on Fox News that the Capitol Insurrectionists posed “zero threat” to lawmakers and the police, they were just there to hug and kiss people to death. All that and more, on West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy with Chef de Cuisine Justice Putnam. The Netroots Radio Live Player

What's wrong with the GOP? A recent Forbes poll (https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2021/02/16/trumps-popularity-rebounds-among-republicans-after-impeachment-trial-poll-suggests/?sh=40575fcf237e) found that 54 percent of Republican respondents "said they would vote for Trump in a hypothetical GOP primary." (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-endorses-challenger-against-georgia-elections-chief-brad-raffensperger)Heading into the critical 2022 midterm election, Republicans are fractured. While the majority of the GOP supports Trump -- and his policies -- there is strong support for other conservatives. Therefore, in many GOP contests there will be a "mainstream" Republican candidate and a Trump candidate.

We see a lot about COVID and almost as much about White Supremacy. White Supremacy got tested, Big Time. Our White Supremacy government had allowed Trump to order Bolton to delete the files for Early Response to pandemics in 2018. That is, our White House copy of the Seven Pillars. All thanks to the idiocies of White Supremacy.

Having said all that, the events of the last few days changed things. Many of you may remember the great Sesame Street song, “One Of These Things Is Not Like The Others.”Incongruously, I thought of that song as I watched, and then read, the coverage of yet another mass shooting in America, this time in Boulder, Colorado. I read that the shooter wrecked his deadly havoc using an AR-15 “pistol.” Actually, his weapon of choice was a “Ruger AR-556 pistol,” a “pistol” version of Ruger’s AR-556 rifle, which is the company’s take on the AR-15. In the waning days of the Trump administration, that agency opened a comment period to talk about better defining what makes a pistol a pistol. With regard to the gun issue, at least, the Sesame Street folks got one thing wrong – the second line, “One of these things just doesn’t belong.” For our purposes today, it needs to modified (grammar be damned):NONE OF THESE THINGS JUST DOESN’T BELONG!

“The GRINCH Act will prohibit taxpayer dollars from funding bureaucrats’ attempts to censor children’s literature and determine what our kids are permitted to read,” added Dr. Joyce. Dr. Seuss didn’t teach me much, but he taught me that. For instance, I can’t find Fruit Stripe gum anywhere. Where the fuck is my Fruit Stripe gum, Republicans? I CHEWED FRUIT STRIPE GUM AS A CHILD.

Lots of spring cleaning to doWelcome ? to Friday’s Roundup of Good News! And we would not be able get to work at cleaning it up. I personally think that is why the Biden administration is taking a while to open up facilities to reporters. — President Biden (@POTUS) March 25, 2021Unfortunately, too many people — the Rs, and a large part of the media — profit from division. President Biden used the event to pledge that 200 million covid-19 vaccinations would be administered by the end of his first 100 days, double his original goal.

Polling consistently found that most Americans considered Trump as the candidate who was mentally unsound (including this poll by Fox News). It was zero threat. Right from the start it was zero threat. But what's truly disgraceful is that Trump thinks the Capitol rioters posed "zero threat" as they rampaged through the seat of America's democracy. Zero threat.

This is the full report — lincolnproject.us/…There is a lot in that report — a lot. The average ad was 30K production costs. 81 percent of that is costs of money raising, advertising, production costs (mostly advertising). Now — about those two firms above — Summit and Tusk — they were indeed paid 49.7 million dollars — but guess what — almost all the advertising and production costs — they paid! 7 million of the 9 million production costs they paid —37 million of the advertising costs — were paid by them.

Gianforte trapped the wolf on a private ranch belonging to Sinclair Broadcasting owner Robert Smith. But there are “hunters” like Gianforte who trapped a wolf, then shot it. A 2013 study showed that prairie dogs have a complex language, one in which they can describe not just the various predators that threaten their “towns,” but individual humans they spot. Prairie dogs encode this information into short but distinctive chirps. Even so, prairie dogs are considered a non-game species in Montana.

Brothers Matthew and Jonathanpeter (really!) Matthew Klein, 24, was arrested in Sherwood, and Jonathanpeter Klein, 21, was arrested near Heppner on Tuesday without incident, the FBI said. They said video shows Matthew Klein helping others climb a police barricade to ascend the wall. The Seattle TimesMatthew Klein, 24, was arrested Tuesday in Sherwood and his brother, 21-year-old Jonathanpeter Klein, was arrested the same day near Heppner, the agency said. [link]Footage of Proud Boys violence taken 9/7/20 in Salem, Oregon via the FBI link above...x Proud boy chases down another BLM supporter, beats them down.

Today, the Callaway Plantation is a 56-acre historic site where -- as the ExploreGeorgia website cheerily notes -- tourists can get "a glimpse into the by-gone era of working plantations in the agricultural South." https://t.co/BslVZYLSC4 — Will Bunch Sign Up For My Newsletter (@Will_Bunch) March 26, 2021x 6. In her account, she notes that... https://t.co/oW8Pq5tf0y — Will Bunch Sign Up For My Newsletter (@Will_Bunch) March 26, 2021x 8. Visitors today to the Callaway Plantation say this legacy of inhumanity is downplayed. https://t.co/RYtMkpwif1 — Will Bunch Sign Up For My Newsletter (@Will_Bunch) March 26, 2021x 10.

Harris' predecessor was Jerry Brown, the state's once-and-future Democratic governor; Brown's father, Pat Brown, also held this office when he was elected governor himself back in 1958. Senate? MO-Sen: Former U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison said Thursday that he would not run in next year's Republican primary. Major Pennsylvania Democrats talked openly about Shapiro running for governor even before he was re-elected last year. The one exception is Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, who didn't rule out running for governor or Senate back in January. ? WY-AL: On Wednesday, the Wyoming state Senate voted down a bill that would have required a runoff in any primaries where no one earned a majority of the vote.

The law itself attacks voting rights in nearly every way possible. There are more than 200,000 Georgia voters who do not have a driver's license or state identification number. He filed that suit on behalf of the New Georgia Project, Black Voters Matter, and the student organization Rise. There's also Congress, where those Republicans aren't failing voters. So in that sense, Georgia might just have done voting rights a favor.

Protests as Georgia governor signs elections bill Georgia Gov. The bill signing was met by protests from some ...(Image by YouTube, Channel: Associated Press) Details DMCASix White Georgia lawmakers stood behind GOP Gov. The new Peach State law was packed into a 100-page voting bill. One documents Trump pressuring the Republican secretary of state; a second recording surfaced later, showing Trump working on a state elections investigator. Try telling that to the Black Georgia legislator who got put in handcuffs and jail for daring to knock on the door of the White Only bill signing ceremony at the Georgia state Capitol.

What's wrong with the GOP? The most recent Gallup Poll (Click Here ) found that 56 percent of respondents approved Joe Biden's job performance -- versus 39 percent who disapproved. At the moment, two-thirds of the GOP feel cheated and, therefore, aren't going to support Biden no matter what he does. A recent Forbes poll (Click Here) found that 54 percent of Republican respondents "said they would vote for Trump in a hypothetical GOP primary." While the majority of the GOP supports Trump -- and his policies -- there is strong support for other conservatives.

The main falsehood from Heritage Action is that taxpayers would fund political campaigns. Heritage Action repeats this lie on its website multiple times. Another Heritage Action social media graphic even falsely claims that "H.R. Heritage Action bused in participants from out of state and provided free lunch for them, according to Documented. Conservative Action Project, an offshoot of CNP, published a statement condemning the bill and using many of the same talking points that other right-wing groups have employed.

McCarthy claimed that border agents had told him that terrorists had entered the country due to a relaxation of immigration rules by the Biden administration. McCarthy also claimed that these purported terrorists were entering the country from places like Yemen, Iran and Sri Lanka. Border agents “even talked about Chinese, as well,” the California Republican said. The claims from McCarthy match those made by former President Donald Trump, who similarly said in 2018 that terrorists were being caught while crossing the border. Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) said she also recently spoke with Border Patrol agents, none of whom made any comments suggesting terrorists were crossing the border.

The For the People Act, Democrats’ wide-ranging election and ethics reform bill, got its first hearing this week in the Senate Rules Committee. The main falsehood from Heritage Action is that taxpayers would fund political campaigns. Heritage Action repeats this lie on its website multiple times. During this week’s first Senate panel, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell lied about “taxpayer-funded bumper stickers and attack ads.”Another Heritage Action social media graphic even falsely claims that “H.R. Heritage Action bused in participants from out of state and provided free lunch for them, according to Documented.

President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats are working to rescue immigrants who’ve been living in the U.S. for decades under a “temporary” legal status. If so, TPS holders are able to apply for another work permit (with its attendant $500 fee). Meanwhile, TPS holders from different countries organized to protect themselves, ultimately forming the National TPS Alliance and spurring a lawsuit against the Trump administration. Nearly half of TPS holders surveyed scored as “highly distressed” — twice the rate of unauthorized immigrants. Citizenship Act in the Senate, said that he’ll be “exploring ways” to ensure relief for Venezuelan TPS holders.

The Washington Post reports the shelters received more than 450 new migrant children per day, on average, in the first week of March. Last year, in a series titled “The Disappeared,” she exposed how the U.S. was holding migrant children far longer than previously known. The Biden administration long knew that there would be an increase of children at the southern border and had a long time to prepare. What should the Biden administration be doing now so that there aren’t so many children in detention? I would love to see the Biden administration just give us some really, really basic transparency.

“What is happening at the southern border is shameful,” says Luz Lopez, a lawyer with the Southern Poverty Law Center focused on immigration. AMY GOODMAN: “That has not happened.”For more, we’re joined by Luz Lopez, senior supervising attorney with the Immigrant Justice Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. We are —JUAN GONZÁLEZ: But, Luz, I wanted to ask you —LUZ LOPEZ: Yeah. As I said —AMY GOODMAN: Luz Lopez —LUZ LOPEZ: Yes. Luz Lopez, thanks so much for being with us, senior supervising attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center.

President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats are working to rescue immigrants who’ve been living in the U.S. for decades under a “temporary” legal status. If so, TPS holders are able to apply for another work permit (with its attendant $500 fee). Meanwhile, TPS holders from different countries organized to protect themselves, ultimately forming the National TPS Alliance and spurring a lawsuit against the Trump administration. Nearly half of TPS holders surveyed scored as “highly distressed” — twice the rate of unauthorized immigrants. Citizenship Act in the Senate, said that he’ll be “exploring ways” to ensure relief for Venezuelan TPS holders.

As workers in Bessemer, Alabama, continue to vote on whether to establish the first unionized Amazon warehouse in the United States, we speak with actor and activist Danny Glover, who recently joined organizers on the ground to push for a yes vote. “This election is a statement,” says Glover, one of the most high-profile supporters of the closely watched union drive. New York Congressmember Jamaal Bowman visited last month and called on Amazon executives to come out and talk to their critics. AMY GOODMAN: One of the most high-profile supporters of the Amazon unionization drive is the world-renowned actor, director, activist, longtime labor supporter, Danny Glover. And you know Haiti is in the midst of a political and economic crisis.

Such claims have no basis in reality, and there is no evidence whatsoever that Dominion played a role in altering vote totals. “Fox engaged in this knowing and reckless propagation of these enormous falsehoods in order to profit off these lies,” the lawsuit states. “Fox sold a false story of election fraud in order to serve its own commercial purposes, severely injuring Dominion in the process. Smartmatic also sued Fox for $2.7 billion in February, making similar allegations. “Fox News will no doubt claim the 1st Amendment gives it an impenetrable shield against liability for defaming Dominion with claims it had to know were fake,” Tribe tweeted.

As corporate media and Republicans paint the influx of unaccompanied children on the U.S.-Mexico border as a “crisis” and “surge,” advocates and attorneys tell Truthout that legal and logistical complexities are being lost in these distorted portrayals. The Biden administration, they say, faces the challenges of inheriting an asylum system that former President Donald Trump systematically dismantled, in addition to those posed by the ongoing global pandemic. He also said he would grant media access to the facilities but declined to give an exact date. Nonetheless, advocates say the administration needs to speed up the transfers of kids from CBP into HHS custody. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz traveled to the border this week with more than a dozen other GOP senators.

Over the past 10 days, Georgia Republicans rushed a voter suppression omnibus bill that will make it much easier for the state legislature to overturn elections in the future. The bill removes the Georgia secretary of state as the head of the state election board and directs the legislature to appoint the board’s leader. “This is extraordinarily dangerous,” Sara Tindall Ghazal, former election protection director for the Georgia Democratic Party, told Mother Jones. “Republicans are brazenly trying to seize local and state election authority in an unprecedented power grab,” former Georgia state representative and voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams told The New York Times. Now that they’ve passed a sweeping bill in Georgia, Republicans are likely emboldened to seek similar changes elsewhere.

The threat of authoritarianism is no longer on the horizon. Three intersecting formative cultures or fundamentalisms have strongly shaped the emergence of a new political formation that I call neoliberal fascism. Undermining all notions of the social, neoliberalism has become the enemy of democracy and social justice and must be resisted at all costs. Defunded and turned into testing centers and efficiency mills, public schooling as a democratic public sphere has been privatized, degraded and broken, furthering a culture of ignorance and illiteracy. Moreover, the educational force of neoliberal culture now prepares its willing subjects from the inside, molding their desires, anxieties and identities through psychological domination.

A broad new investigation into the federal government’s response to the January 6 mob attack on the U.S. Capitol is afoot. The committees are requesting all materials relating to the certification process of the Electoral College, discussions of Trump loyalists’ plans leading up to the mob attack, and communications in the wake of the violence. “Should the documents make their way into public view, communications by those employees could be monumental,” writes Whitney Wild on CNN. Arguing that there was “zero threat” from his supporters when they descended upon the Capitol building, Trump added, “Look, they went in, they shouldn’t have done it. Most Americans believe that Trump bears much of the responsibility for what happened on January 6.

ADThe Looney Tunes scenario for conservative recall organizers would see voters opting to oust Newsom, but then choosing to replace him with an even more progressive Democrat. Then again, a recall ballot pits Newsom against himself, not a Republican certain to lose on an adjacent line. ADIt’s the second half of the recall ballot that should concern Newsom’s foes. ADEnter the recall organizers’ biggest nightmare: an up-and-coming, progressive replacement for Newsom from the California legislature. That’s quite the political discourtesy, as Newsom last year tapped Steyer to lead his economic recovery task force.

Trump, on the other hand, fed coronavirus panic, at one point even suggesting injections of bleach as a cure for the disease. No word, alas, on whether the cop cars needed to use their sirens to hurry the process along. As he lapped up the adulation of the public, New York racked up the second-highest per capita death toll from the disease in the country. One reason Trump was elected was because many Americans had become so cynical as to believe all politicians were venal and dishonest. You can’t combat Donald Trump with a poor man’s version of him and expect to come out ahead.

A reporter asked President Biden during Thursday’s news conference if he agreed with Barack Obama that the filibuster is 'relic' of the Jim Crow era. And in the following years, Harris joined Senate Democrats in regularly using the filibuster to block legislation in the Senate. DEMOCRATS HATE FILIBUSTER NOW BUT USED IT TO BLOCK GOP LEGISLATION UNDER TRUMPSenators have never been "required" as Biden says, to talk on the floor at length to actually filibuster legislation. In the years following the new rule in 1917, some senators used the filibuster to block civil rights legislation, which is why Democrats associate it with the Jim Crow era. Biden, for his part, was asked on Thursday if he believes the filibuster is a Jim Crow relic why he does not push completely for its elimination.

Critics have panned the way reporters behaved during President Biden’s first formal press conference on Thursday, which came 64 days into his administration and was largely devoid of tough questions. LIBERAL PBS REPORTER GUSHES BIDEN PERCEIVED AS 'MORAL, DECENT MAN' DURING IMMIGRATION QUESTIONNot everyone had a problem with Biden’s press conference, as many liberal pundits fawned over the event. MSNBC’s "Morning Joe" continued its infatuation with former President Donald Trump by comparing the tone of his first press conference with Biden’s initial presser. Liberal Washington Post editor Karen Attiah tweeted, "This press conference is embarrassing, and its not because of Biden." "Based on this press conference, it might be a while before anybody itches for another one," McCall said.

Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower each went on to serve two terms in the White House), Pompeo responded, "Gen. Eisenhower was a great Kansan. Trump, who remains incredibly popular with GOP base voters, is the clear favorite in early 2024 GOP presidential nomination polls — including a new one this week in Iowa. That means potential 2024 GOP White House hopefuls like Pompeo have to step gingerly during these extremely early days in the next presidential race. And two weeks ago he tweeted the number of days until the 2024 presidential election, sparking more speculation. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPPompeo isn’t the only potential GOP White House hopeful making the early trip to Iowa.

Tim Scott will speak at another Iowa GOP gathering in Davenport on April 15. Stepanek points to the calendar – and to the coronavirus pandemic – for the lack of in-person early state visits so far. Asked if Trump’s potential 2024 presidential bid is also putting a freeze on early state visits so far by other White House hopefuls, he said it’s too early to tell. While the early state stops have been limited to date, there’s plenty of action going on behind the scenes. And Kaufmann's pitch to potential 2024 GOP contenders?

The Washington Post yet again was forced to make a significant correction on Thursday, altering a headline to an analysis piece that initially claimed there was "no migrant surge" and didn't acknowledge the record number of unaccompanied minors crossing the border. The initial headline of the piece from its Monkey Cage blog read, "There’s no migrant ‘surge’ at the U.S. southern border. "The headline is now, "The migrant ‘surge’ at the U.S. southern border is actually a predictable pattern." However, the Biden administration created a carve-out specifically for minors in its Title 42 authority to expel migrants at the border. Border officials are on pace to take in more than 17,000 minors this month, which would be a record.

Slideshow ( 2 images )Venezuela had planned to request the formation of a WTO panel to rule on whether sanctions the United States imposed in 2018 and 2019 breached global trading rules. “The United States will reject any effort by Maduro to misuse the WTO to attack U.S. sanctions aimed at restoring human rights and democracy to Venezuela,” he said in a statement. Venezuela blames Washington’s sanctions - which it refers to as “unilateral coercive measures” - for the South American country’s economic woes. “Sooner rather than later Venezuela will defeat with the law what the United States seeks to impose with force,” Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said on Twitter on Friday. The United States under President Donald Trump blocked appointments to the WTO’s Appellate Body, leaving it with too few members to hear cases.

(Reuters) - A coalition of civil rights groups has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Georgia’s sweeping new voting restrictions, arguing that the Republican-backed law is intended to make it harder for people – particularly Black voters – to cast ballots. “These provisions lack any justification for their burdensome and discriminatory effects on voting,” the lawsuit said. Democrats and voting rights advocates decried the restrictions, which passed the legislature solely with Republican support, as a revival of racially discriminatory voting laws that will harm voters in minority communities, which are already plagued by long lines and inadequate election infrastructure. Stacey Abrams, the prominent voting rights advocate and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate, called the law “Jim Crow in a suit” on Twitter, referring to the era of racist laws that dominated the U.S. South for decades. That phone call is part of a criminal investigation by state prosecutors into whether Trump broke election laws by pressuring officials to alter the results.

Early on in the pandemic, the Justice Department made fighting such crimes a priority. There was added urgency after Congress passed the massive CARES Act a year ago Friday, which provided a lifeline of cash to help support the country's economy. Now, on the anniversary of the CARES Act, the Justice Department says it has charged 474 defendants with fraud or other criminal schemes tied to the pandemic. Unemployment Insurance — weekly federal unemployment benefits worth $600 a week — also came on line because of the CARES Act. The Justice Department has charged more than 140 people so far for fraud related to the program.

‘Some of them went in and they’re, they’re hugging and kissing the police and the guards,’ said TrumpSeven committees of the United States House of Representatives have launched an investigation into the federal government’s handling and response to the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. Read More: Detective files for divorce after wife pictured at Capitol riots with another manThe letters were sent to the White House, Justice Department, FBI, National Archives, Pentagon, National Guard, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Park Police, Department of the Interior, and the intelligence community. Additionally, Capitol Police and the Architect of the Capitol were contacted. Story continuesTrump said that some “went in and they shouldn’t have done it.”Read More: Trump still under investigation for Capitol riots, prosecutor saysBut, Trump also added, “Some of them went in and they’re, they’re hugging and kissing the police and the guards. The post House committees investigating federal government’s handling of Capitol riots appeared first on TheGrio.

“I'm of the point of view that I still think the most likely etiology of this pathology in Wuhan was from a laboratory – escaped,” Dr Redfield said. Dr Redfield added that he guesses the virus “started transmitting somewhere in September, October, in Wuhan”. His pandemic response under President Trump has also attracted criticism from some quarters. In the CNN interview, Dr Redfield insisted his view that the virus escaped from a lab “is only opinion”. He said he believes it makes more “biological sense” that an “efficient” virus which spreads so easily was developed in a lab.

National ReviewPolitics isn’t a particularly honest business, but still, the mendacity about the border crisis is off the charts. If you’ve been reading NR, you know not only that this is wrong, but specifically how and why it’s wrong. No, the Trump administration didn’t send kids into the desert — it returned them to their home countries. The reflex to ignore and distort reality on this issue is incredibly strong, and we’ve called it out, over and over. It will support, among other things, what we’ve been doing over the last couple of months — and will keep doing — to blow the whistle on the Biden team’s border lies.

While the internet and social media revolutions may have empowered activists to better resist dictatorial overtures, they have equally handed new tools to anti-democratic despots to more effectively stamp out dissent through the use of digital surveillance, disinformation and outright denying internet access to their people. “In 2019 alone we saw 1,706 days of internet access disrupted and 213 internet shutdowns in 33 different countries,” Moira Whelan, Director of Democracy and Technology at the National Democratic Institute, said during a recent SXSW 2021 panel discussion. Online banks lose the ability to operate, businesses lose the ability to communicate with their customers and suppliers,” he continued. Researchers have estimated “the economic damage of that internet shutdown at around $1 billion, or around 1 percent of the country's GDP,” Shahbaz said. As such getting these stories heard “becomes a huge challenge now in the digital age when most people are relying on the internet or mobile technologies in order to access news and information,” Cunningham lamented.

Hundreds of thousands of debtors like Pizzuti and White are in loan limbo, and are now demanding relief after the the documents detailed how the debt relief process was mangled during the Trump era. (Courtesy of Ashley Pizzuti)'That led to a lot of depression'The system for borrower defense claims submitted by students who claim to have been defrauded and request loan forgiveness was created in 1995. In 2019, 200,000 borrower defense claims for debt relief were still pending. 'Fair path to relief'The documents related to the borrower defense policy under the Trump administration comes amid a major shift within ED upon President Joe Biden taking office. The department is instead offering full relief to those who had had their debt relief claims approved, meaning that 72,000 defrauded borrowers will get close to $1 billion in debt cancellation.

This is the March 26, 2021, edition of the Essential Politics newsletter. Newsletter Get our Essential Politics newsletter The latest news, analysis and insights from our politics teams from Sacramento to D.C. AdvertisementSo the numbers could still change, but the share of top posts going to women has stayed consistent so far. Earlier this week, Biden announced that Vice President Kamala Harris will lead the administration’s diplomatic response to migrant issues. Until next time, keep track of all the developments in national politics and the Trump administration on our Politics page and on Twitter at @latimespolitics .

The company argues that Fox News, a network that features several pro-Trump personalities, pushed the false claims to explain away the former president’s loss. Attorneys for Dominion said Fox News’ behavior differs greatly from that of other media outlets that reported on the claims. Though Dominion serves 28 states, until the 2020 election it had been largely unknown outside the election community. One employee, Eric Coomer, told the AP he had to go into hiding over death threats because of the false claims. A rival technology company, Smartmatic USA, also sued Fox News over election claims for a similar sum of money.

Nov. 9, the lawsuit said, Trump tweeted “a series of stories from Fox rival Newsmax related to false claims of election fraud” and later posted a link from the far-right site Breitbart that referred to an “exploding backlash against Fox News.” On. Nov. 12, Trump “sent a flurry of tweets vilifying Fox and encouraging viewers to switch to other networks.”

Ahead of the forum, the White House hosted a videoconference meeting Monday with industry executives, including ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell. “We have over 100,000 (oil and gas) wells that are not capped, leaking methane. The White House declined comment Thursday, but the industry turnaround on carbon pricing was met with doubt among some environmentalists and scorn from congressional Republicans. Despite the moratorium on new leases, the Biden administration has continued to issue permits for existing leases, including more than 200 in March, records show. Companies could claim they have the right to extract oil and gas after spending years and millions of dollars to secure leases.

House Republicans objected to Pelosi’s plan for a commission because it would be comprised of more Democrats than Republicans, unlike the 9/11 panel. She has said she would be willing to negotiate on that, but not on the scope of the investigation, which Republicans had also objected to. More than 300 people have been charged in connection to the riot. Pelosi said she wants the committee investigations to be bipartisan, but it is unclear the extent to which Republicans will participate. The House panels looking into the attack are the Intelligence; Judiciary; Oversight and Reform; Armed Services; Appropriations; Homeland Security; and Administration committees.

FILE - In this Oct. 15, 2020 file photo, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, speaks during a news conference near Neffs Canyon, in Salt Lake City. Romney was named the winner of the Profile in Courage Award on Friday, March 26, 2021, for splitting with his party and becoming the only Republican to vote to convict former President Donald Trump during his first impeachment trial. Romney was named the winner of the Profile in Courage Award on Friday, March 26, 2021, for splitting with his party and becoming the only Republican to vote to convict former President Donald Trump during his first impeachment trial. At Trump’s second impeachment trial, Romney was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict the former president of inciting the attack. Romney will be presented with the award, a sterling silver lantern symbolizing a beacon of hope, at a virtual ceremony in May.

“Look, they went in — they shouldn’t have done it — some of them went in, and they’re hugging and kissing the police and the guards, you know? Many officers suffered concussions and other bodily injuries from being beaten with flagpoles, sprayed with bear spray, punched, dragged and trampled. More than 300 people have been charged since the attack that resulted in five deaths and 130 police assaults. Trump is not the only Republican to downplay the severity of the Jan. 6 attack. Without bipartisan support, Democratic committee chairs announced Thursday night that the House will be pushing ahead with its own investigation spanning multiple committees.

A nine-year-old Mexican child died while trying to cross the Rio Grande River into the United States, the Border Patrol said Friday amid a surge in migrants seeking to enter the country. "Agents found the individuals and immediately began administering first aid while transporting the migrants to shore," the Border Patrol said in a statement that did not state the deceased child's gender. A senior Border Patrol official said Friday that the numbers continue to increase: some 6,000 undocumented migrants were caught on Thursday trying to enter the country. In February more than 9,000 unaccompanied children, mostly from Mexico and Central American, came in, and that number appears on track to top 14,000 this month. The Border Patrol official said they expect the surge to continue at least through April.

The number of people being taken into custody per day on the southern border has surpassed the number that Border Patrol agents saw at the height of the 2019 crisis during the Trump administration. Approximately 6,000 adults and children were apprehended by agents across the 1,950-mile-long U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday, a senior official said during a call with reporters Friday. During the busiest months of the 2019 surge, agents were seeing 4,500 people per day. The official said agents took an average of 5,000 people into custody each day over the past month, which over 30 days would equate to 150,000 people detected after illegally crossing the southern border. NINE-YEAR-OLD MEXICAN BOY DIES AFTER ATTEMPTING TO CROSS BORDER RIVERApproximately half of all those being stopped at the border are families and children from Central America, while the other half are Mexican adults.

You may not have noticed, because he is not nearly as in-your-face as his predecessor, but Joe Biden is currently teaching a lesson to left and centre-left parties around the world. Two-thirds into its first 100 days, and the Biden presidency has easily secured the right to be described as radical. The true radical is not the fiery deliverer of revolutionary speeches or writer of maximalist manifestos. The true radical is the one who wins power and uses it for good. Biden has achieved more in two months than those who like to trumpet their radicalism manage in a lifetime.

Former President Donald Trump has acknowledged his administration slashed federal funds to the northern triangle of Central America as part of an effort to “punish” those countries for an influx of migrants crossing the US-Mexico border during his tenure in the White House. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. That’s why they’re coming, Biden’s a good guy,” Mr Biden said. “I’d like to think [it’s because] I’m a nice guy, but it’s not.”“It’s because of earthquakes, floods, it’s because of a lack of food,” Mr Biden later continued.

The former head of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says Covid-19 "most likely" came from a laboratory in Wuhan where Chinese scientists were conducting research on coronaviruses. Robert Redfield, the CDC director in the Trump administration, said in a new interview with CNN on Friday that Covid-19 likely began spreading in September or October of 2019 after likely infecting a lab worker accidentally. “I am of the point of view that I still think the most likely ideology of this pathogen in Wuhan was from a laboratory. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. We try to help make it grow better and better and better and better and better and better, so we can do experiments and figure out about it,” he said.

Mr Wallace otherwise said that Mr Biden had been “empathetic”, held himself well, and understood and had control of his brief, though delivered his answers slowly. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Among Trump White House staffers watching, former press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tweeted: “Right out of the gate, the White House press corps stands for President Biden.”She continued: “Would have been nice if they would have routinely shown that level of respect for President Trump. He described a response Mr Biden gave as a “monstrous lie”, which won praise from Ms McEnany, but led one Twitter user to respond “‘Monstrous’.